One hundred seventy-five power plants generating a combined 39,908.964 megawatts (MW) were subjected to a full engineering review known as system impact studies (SIS) at the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) in 2023, the Department of Energy (DOE) said on Tuesday.
Such reviews determine the effects of a proposed power project on customer connections in the grid and meant to discover if adjustments in the system like additional transmission lines, transformers or substations are needed.
According to the DOE, 158 of the applications were from the renewable energy sector the largest of which relate to Vind Energy Corporation’s 3,038 MW NOM FL1 offshore wind project in offshore Occidental Mindoro and Batangas.
Ten of the SIS applications were for energy storage systems with the remaining seven from power plants using conventional fossil fuel.
October last year proved the most fruitful in terms of SIS clearances issued, numbering 32.
According to officials, those undergoing SIS are not assured of eventual link up to the grid due to factors the include funding, line availability and off take agreements, among others.
Earlier, NGCP bared outsourcing some aspects of the SIS pending the issuance of an accreditation from the Energy Regulatory Commission.
The company said the engineering review is among a series of actions lined up to further augment the organization’s capabilities and expedite the completion of SIS issues posed by the long line of proposed power plant connections.
The NGCP also adopted a clustering approach for SIS, grouping together power plants with a common connection point or study area to streamline the process and accelerate the evaluation of multiple projects, enhancing the overall efficiency and reducing the waiting time for potential power plant developers.
The company also said the steadily rising demand for electricity has caused a surge in SIS applications.
Data show, however, that the majority of applicants do not push through with the review as only around 28 percent complete the SIS that result also in the construction of actual power plants.
