To enhance the integration of renewable energy (RE) into the grid, the Northern Palawan Power Generation Corporation (NPPGC) has asked the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to connect the Cawag Solar Power project to the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) substation.
According to a document posted by the ERC on January 22, NPPGC has sought the regulators’ approval to develop, own, operate, and maintain dedicated point-to-point transmission facilities that would connect the 120.6 megawatt (MW) solar plant to the 230 kilovolt (kV) Subic Hanjin Substation.
The Cawag Solar Power project is located in Subic Freeport Zone in Zambales.
The Department of Energy (DOE) had previously awarded a service contract to the generation company (GenCos), which allowed the firm to explore, develop, and utilize solar energy as a registered RE developer.
The NGCP also conducted a system impact study (SIS) to ensure the project’s stability, reliability, and operating works.
The ERC also noted that the transmission facility is technically and financially feasible, with the NPPGC injecting its own investments into the project.
“Since NPPGC will solely fund the development and construction of the Transmission Facility and the Transmission Facility will be exclusively used by NPPGC for the operations of the Project and will not serve any end-user, the Transmission Facility will not have an impact on the transmission rates currently being charged to the public,” it stated.
NPPGC also found that the transmission facility would be worth approximately P1.188 billion.
In order to complete the application, the ERC has directed the firm to undergo a Notice of Virtual Hearing and inform consumers of the petition, among others.
NPPGC is a subsidiary of Emerging Power Inc. (EPI), which has been supplying RE from its solar project to Aboitiz-led Adventpower Inc. and Adventenergy, Inc. as of last month.