The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) is studying the development of a micro-hydroelectric power at the Angat-Maasim river irrigation system in Angat, Bulacan.
NIA said the project is part of its innovation and modernization thrust in the use of irrigation for renewable energy development. It has signed a memorandum of understanding with BPE Corp. to study, at BPE’s expense, its financial, socio-economic and technical viability.
Under the agreement, BPEC shall also not cause any damage to NIA properties and facilities and ensure that the timely irrigation needs of its service area is not be affected or compromised.
Eddie Guillen, NIA acting administrator, said there had been proposals to install power generation turbines at the gates of the river irrigation system.
“They will repair the old gates and will install turbines. Imagine, you can also harness energy at the canal and not at the dam itself and we will also not spend for the repair of the gates,” Guillen said.
“NIA will not spend anything,” Guillen reiterated.
Earlier, NIA identified a total 379 potential hydroelectric power sites nationwide with four already operational, including the 8.5 megawatt (MW) in MARIS main (south) canal in Isabela; the 1 MW Rizal hydropower plant in Nueva Ecija, 1 MW Bulanao mini-hydropower plant in Kalinga; and the 500 kilowatts Marbel1 in South Cotabato.
The agency is also pushing for the development of floating solar projects in dams which have been found effective in reducing the amount of water lost to evaporation in reservoirs while maintaining the safety of fish and other organisms to grow.
NIA is the lead agency for developing sources of water for irrigation.
