Visayas power supply may stay tight through September as plant repairs face delays
Relief for the strained Visayas power grid may not come by month-end as delayed repairs on a major power plant continue to drag down regional supply, according to the Department of Energy (DOE).
DOE Undersecretary Mario Marasigan told reporters on Monday, Aug. 17, said that supply in Visayas grid could tighten further through September due to extended restoration delays of one unit of Therma Visayas Inc. (TVI).
“For next week, what we are seeing is that we will remain to have yellow alerts in the afternoon for both Visayas and Mindanao, but we might have as well red alerts during the evening time,” Marasigan said. “So, it depends when it will be extended.”
According to Marasigan, TVI unit 1, which was supposed to come online with the second unit before the end of August, has broken down once again and will need more time for repairs before resuming operations on Sept. 11.
As of Monday, National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) has scheduled a yellow alert from 4 to 5 p.m. and 8 to 9 p.m., while a red alert is set to occur from 5 to 8 p.m.
A red alert is triggered when the power supply is not enough to meet consumer demand and the regulating requirement of NGCP, while a yellow alert is set when the operating margin is not enough to meet the transmission grid’s contingency requirement.
Current demand in the region peaked at 2,413 megawatts (MW), while available capacity is at 2,334 MW. TVI power plant units 1 and 2 remain offline, while Visayas grid is experiencing limited power importation from Mindanao. The lower supply availability from the neighboring region is caused by power plant outages and high system demand, which therefore reduces its exports to Visayas.
While renewable energy (RE) remains prominent in Visayas, Energy Secretary Sharon Garin emphasized the need for stronger and more reliable grid systems. To assess this, the Philippines is set to host a forum that focuses on Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) partnerships that would mobilize capital and clean technologies.
Launching the 26th ASEAN Energy Business Forum, Garin emphasized that high-level engagements with regional policymakers and industry players will help address ongoing power supply strains.
“As ASEAN Chair, the Philippines will continue to prioritize the ASEAN Power Grid. A more connected ASEAN can allow electricity to move to where it is needed and make better use of the energy resources available across the region. Over time, that can strengthen our collective energy security and make larger investments in clean energy more viable,” Garin said.