The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) has allowed accredited third parties to conduct the system impact studies (SIS) of power plants as response to the huge backlog built up the past many years, the Energy Regulatory Commission said.
The critically important assessment of incoming power contributors to the national grid identifies the necessary improvements such as additional transmission lines, transformers or substations that keeps the entire system at optimum performance.
According to the NGCP, nine such studies are even now ongoing with 64 more on queue.
Also, more SIS teams have been hired to boost manpower and the capacity of the organization to conduct studies simultaneously.
Likewise, a clustering or grouping together of power plants with a common connection point or study area has been adopted to streamline and accelerate the evaluation of multiple projects, enhance overall efficiency and reduce the waiting time for power plant to connect to the grid.
Due to the increasing demand for power across the archipelago, SIS applications significantly climbed since although historical data show the majority of applicants do not push through with their initial plans.
Only around 28 percent of completed SIS, the NGCP said, result in the establishment of actual power plants.
“Although 7 out of 10 SIS applicants do not actually pursue their investments, we are obliged to fully evaluate each application when they are passed on to us by the Department of Energy. Accordingly, we have taken the necessary steps to expedite the process and improve its efficiency,” said Anthony Almeda, NGCP president and chief executive officer.
Almeda also said developed countries like the United States and the United Kingdom complete their grid impact studies typically over three years.
“Other countries usually operate on a first-ready-first-served basis. This strategy has been discussed with the DOE. It may be worth considering to depart from the first-come-first-served basis currently in place through the Energy Virtual One Stop Shop (EVOSS) in order to be faster and more efficient. Generation project proponents who are first in line for SIS are not necessarily first to be ready with complete requirements. In fact, many request for time extensions, which also contributes to the prolonged SIS processing time,” Almeda said.
