Northern Samar wind farm gains ERC go-ahead for grid connection
File
The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has approved the connection of Lihangin Wind Energy Corp.’s (LWEC) San Isidro Wind Power Project to the Visayas grid, which would mark the entry of its wind capacity into the system.
LWEC, a joint venture of Aboitiz Renewables Inc., Vivant Energy Corp., and the Singaporean firm Vena Energy, has been granted the go-ahead to develop and own point-to-point transmission facilities that would link the San Isidro wind farm through two substations of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP).
In a decision made by the ERC, LWEC is allowed to build the facilities by connecting them via the Calbayog substation as the interim connection and the San Isidro substation as the final connection.
However, the commission noted that NGCP will operate and maintain LWEC’s facilities, which are subject to applicable charges. Should the assets be required for competitive purposes, ownership may be transferred to NGCP at fair market value, subject to optimization.
The 206-megawatt (MW) San Isidro wind plant is located in the municipality of San Isidro in Northern Samar, and has secured three permits from the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
This includes the wind energy service contract, acquired in 2019, the Certificate of Endorsement (COE), and the Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC), both of which were issued last year.
The project is expected to commence commercial operations by February of next year. Once operational, it will add more renewable energy capacity to the Visayas grid.
LWEC has previously partnered with PowerChina Philippines Corp. for the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) deal for the entire wind development.