Mindanao Power Assured Despite Clean Energy Thrusts--DOE

TAGUIG CITY - Development of power projects are on track to ensure an adequate supply of electricity in Mindanao. This is carried out as the country embarks on the implementation of policies for a cleaner energy mix, Department of Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said.

Under the 2020-2040 Philippine Energy Plan, the country’s peak demand for electricity is projected to increase by almost four-fold with 6.6 percent annual increment for the 20-year period, with Mindanao exhibiting the highest annual growth at 7.9 percent, followed by Visayas at 7.3 percent and Luzon at 6.2 percent.

Among ongoing power projects to address the growing demand for electricity in Mindanao is the rehabilitation of the Agus-Pulangi hydropower plant to restore its original combined capacity of 1,001 MW and extend its economic life by another 30 years.

Sec. Cusi said the project also involves the establishment of water impounding systems upstream of the existing Agus-Pulangi hydro system.

“This is expected to collect and store rainwater during the rainy season and provide additional water supply to the dams during the summer months. These upstream water impounding systems can also prevent flooding,” Sec. Cusi said.

Aging equipment and other contributory factors have reduced the generating capacity of the Agus-Pulangi hydropower plants to an average of only around 600 MW to 700 MW.

According to the PEP, the DOE is also monitoring the implementation of a total of 53 committed power projects in the country with a combined rated capacity of 8,977.11 MW. Seven of these projects are in Mindanao with a combined rated capacity of 352.30MW.

Sec. Cusi earlier allayed concerns of possible power shortage in Mindanao, saying the DOE is not looking at phaseout of coal-fired plants in Mindanao despite the moratorium on coal. Most of the coal-fired plants in the region are relatively new, having begun their commercial operations in 2015 to 2017.

 “Our decarbonization scenario will look into the possibility of converting fossil-fired power plants to other fuels such as biomass, fuelwood,etc.,” Sec. Cusi said.

Besides, Sec. Cusi stressed that the dominant source of renewable energy in Mindanao, which is hydropower, is not intermittent and could even be optimized using the Battery Energy Storage System (BESS). He said the same technology can be used with available geothermal systems on the island.

“Other RE resources in the area can be developed in a hybrid manner so as to optimize their predication and availability while connected to a BESS,” Sec. Cusi said.

And to ensure that the grid system would have the flexibility to send power in Mindanao or other areas of the country when needed, Cusi cited the ongoing implementation of the Mindanao-Visayas Interconnection Project (MVIP).

The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines earlier said it will be able to complete the MVIP within the first quarter of 2022.

 As envisioned under the PEP, an interconnected grid system will optimize the utilization of all available indigenous energy resources, such as natural gas in Luzon, geothermal in the Visayas, and hydro in Mindanao, resulting in a more stable and secure power supply in the country.

“Grid interconnection will be provided with built-in flexibility for optimum power transfer. Also, the growth in demand for power will identify the need for additional inter-island connection,” Sec. Cusi said. 

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