DOE clears 19 power plants

The Department of Energy has cleared 19 projects for grid impact studies from May to July, according to latest data from the government.

The projects have a total generating capacity of 2,680.88 megawatts (MW).

Of the 19 projects cleared for the conduct of GIS, 17 are renewable energy projects, one is a diesel power plant and one is a liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant.

There are eight solar power projects (SPPs) in the list, three of which will be developed by Solar Philippines Commercial Rooftop Projects Inc.

The company is looking to develop a 421.2-MW SPP in San Rafael and another one in San Ildefonso, Bulacan. It is also building a 200-MW SPP in La Paz, Tarlac.

The other solar developers include Embrace Nature Power 1 Corp. for a 44-MW SPP in General Santos City, South Cotabato; Pilipinas Faraday Energy Corp. for a 100-MW in Isabela; NVVPSE Five Inc. for a 65-MW SPP in Tantangan, South Cotabato; Astronergy Development Pagadian Inc. for a 14-MW SPP in Brgy. Banale, Pagadian City; Manresa Power Corp. for a 80-MW SPP in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan.

Seven of the total projects will harness hydropower resource.

Hedcor Benguet Inc. is developing two power projects in Sablan, Benguet—the 20-MW Sablan 1 hydropower project and the 32-MW Sablan 2 hydropower project.

Its parent firm Hedcor Inc. is putting up a 40-MW hydropower project in Kibungan, Benguet and the 52-MW Santol-Sugpon hydroelectric power project in La Union and Ilocos Sur.

Meanwhile, I Magat Renewable Energy Corp. will build 15.684-MW and 9.754MW plants in Pasil, Kalinga.

Sta. Clara Power Corp. is working on a 16-MW hydroelectric power plant in San Emilio, Ilocos Sur.

DOE data also showed it cleared one wind project and a biomass plant to proceed to GIS which are the 14-MW Nabas wind (phase 2) power project being developed by Petrowind Energy Inc. in Malay, Aklan and the 25-MW biomass power plant project of North Negros Biopower Inc. in Manapla, Negros Occidental.

The agency also cleared Supreme Power Corp. to conduct a GIS on its 11.04-MW SPC-Tarlac bunker fired plant in Sto. Rosario, Capas, Tarlac.

The largest project cleared by the DOE is the 1,100-MW combined cycle gas turbine project of Limay LLNG Power Corp.

The GIS is necessary in determining if the electricity to be generated by the power project can be absorbed by the grid.