MGen’s solar project in Bulacan set for grid impact study

THE Department of Energy (DoE) signed off the solar farm project of Meralco Powergen Corp. ( MGen) for a grid impact study.

It endorsed the 50-megawatt (MW) renewables project of Manila Electric Co.’s ( Meralco) power generation unit for an impact study with the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines ( NGCP) on Aug. 17, data from DoE showed.

The study is meant to assess the impact of a new power plant’s load and capacity before it can go online.

In July, the company said it was still targeting to commercially launch the solar farm by the end of the year. The facility was initially set to start power generation in the third quarter, but was pushed back due to disruptions caused by the ongoing pandemic.

The P4.25- billion project is situated in a 72- hectare area in San Miguel, Bulacan. It is being constructed by Chinese fi rm SUMEC Complete Equipment & Engineering Co. Ltd., which won the contract in December last year.

Its proponent, PowerSource First Bulacan Solar, Inc., is 40%- owned by MGen through MGen Renewable Energy, Inc. A 36% stake is held by PowerSource Global Holdings Corp., while the remaining 24% is owned by Singaporebased Sunseap International Pte. Ltd.

MGen plans to roll out 1,000- MW projects over the next five to seven years.

Other big power plant projects, which the DoE recently endorsed for a grid impact study, are the 1,200- MW Ilijan Natural Gas Fired Plant Project of San Miguel Corp.- led Excellent Energy Resources, Inc. in Batangas, and three solar power projects of Solar Philippines Power Project Holdings each with 1,200- MW installed capacity. —