Five power firms get ERC nod for direct grid links
The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has authorized five power developers to build, own, and operate their own point-to-point (P2P) limited transmission facilities.
In a notice, ERC said these facilities will enable five power firms’ renewable energy (RE) projects to connect to the grid via the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP).
With the ERC's approval, SMGP Power BESS Inc., a San Miguel-led company, can now connect its 60-megawatt (MW) Lumban Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) to NGCP's 69-kilovolt (kV) Lumban substation through its approved P2P facility.
The commission also authorized Megasol Energy 1, Inc. (ME1I) to construct a transmission facility linking its 41.244 MW alternating-current (MWac) project to the 69 kV Gamu-Roxas transmission line.
Lopez-led Energy Development Corp. (EDC) is also cleared to connect its 5.6 MW Bago Binary geothermal power plant to the grid via the 138 kV Bacolod substation.
Additionally, Camarines Energy Development, Inc. (CEDI) received authorization to build a P2P facility for its 58.5 MW Camarines Sur wind power project, connecting it to the 69 kV Naga-Libmanan transmission line.
Finally, Sapang Balen Solar Second Energy Corporation (SBSSEC) was given the go-ahead to link its Balen 2 solar power plant to NGCP’s 230 kV Mexico-Concepcion line and the 230 kV Magalang substation.
These P2P facilities are expected to help these RE projects bypass congested grid areas, thereby reducing the risk of power losses or regulatory hurdles. However, all these authorizations are subject to specific conditions set by the ERC.