455-MW MeralcoEGCO plant switches on

MAUBAN, Quezon – At this time when Luzon grid has been experiencing fresh round of supply tightness, the switch-on and official market debut of the 156.2 billion San Buenaventura Power Co. Ltd. (SBPL) coal-fired generating facility significantly boosted supply availability in the Luzon grid with additional 455megawatt net capacity.

The power project, a joint venture of Meralco PowerGen (MGen) and its partner New Growth B.V., which is a subsidiary of Electricity Generating Company of Thailand (EGCO), has so far been touted to be utilizing the most advanced equipment – a super critical boiler which is in the genre of high efficiency, low emissions (HELE) technology.

The reinforced efficiency of the plant’s technology enables it to generate electricity with less coal per megawatt of generation; while at the same time reducing emissions of other pollutants like nitrogen oxide (NOx), sulphur dioxide (SO2) and particulate matter.

The switch-on ceremony was led by Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi and Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) Chairperson Agnes T. Devanadera on Tuesday (October 15) at the power plant site; while Luzon grid was declared to be on its second day of “yellow alert” this week -- or that condition wherein there is strained reserves due to tight supply.

Following its commercial commissioning, the SBPL plant has been contributing maximum generation to the Luzon grid – reaching its full rated capacity of 455MW net generation.

“The Philippine electric power industry welcomes the entry of new and emerging innovations, such as this plant’s supercritical power generation technology, which produces more efficient power generation, while emitting less greenhouse gases,” Cusi said.