Firms get nod to conduct grid impact studies

The Department of energy (DOE) has given 11 firms the go-signal to conduct grid impact studies (GIS) for their power projects which will have an installed capacity of 1,797.17 megawatts (MW).

The GIS is necessary in determining if the electricity to be generated by a power project can be absorbed by the country’s transmission system.

For the months of July and August, the DOE cleared the projects of Converge Power Generation Corp. for the 2X71.95MW Cebu LNG power plant, Total Power Inc. for 151.2 MWP San Isidro solar power, PV Sinag Power Inc.’s 159.71MWP Laoag solar power projects, and Belgrove Power Corp.’s rehabilitation plans for the 650MW Malaya Thermal Power Plant (MTTP).

universal Power Solution’s 20MW Battery energy Storage System (BESS), SPC Island Power Corp.’s 9.35MW Panay diesel power plant, SPC Power Corp.’s 2MW BESS, Ph Renewables Inc.’s 80MW solar power project, Gritstone Lead Power Corp.’s 40MW BESS, San Miguel Consolidated Power Corp.’s 41MW Sangali diesel project, and Itbayat Island UPC Asia Corp.’s 500MW wind power project also secured the Doe’s nod.

Based on the list, the biggest power project is the improvement of the MTTP. The power facility has two units—300mw unit 1 and 350MW unit 2--which could not be utilized due due to damage to their turbine and air pre-heater.

The MTTP was recently sold to Belgrove Power via a negotiated sale. The company is embarking on a rebuilding program for MTTP to bring back its reliable capacity to 650 MW.

Belgrove has informed the DOE about its intent on the MTPP which is to “immediately repair unit 2 of Malaya with a rated capacity of 350 MW and bring in two new modular aeroderivative gas engines for an additional capacity of 60 MW” by end-2021.

The company has yet to decide if it will rehabilitate or replace unit 1.

“We plan to keep that position of MTTP as the premier back-up power for the country’s main grid,” company officials said.