DOE clears 5 power projects

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Energy (DOE) has cleared five power projects with nearly over 500 megawatts (MW) in capacity for grid impact studies (GIS) as of end-November 2016.

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

Latest DOE data showed the five projects are seen to generate 566.7 MW of power.

Of the total, three are renewable hydropower plants, namely the 4.5-MW Sawaga River mini hydropower plant and 6.2 Katipunan River mini hydropower plant of REPower Energy Development Corp. both in Bukidnon.

Another renewable energy project is the 24-MW biogas power plant of Natures Renewable Energy Development Corp. in Cagayan.

Vires Energy Corp. has also secured clearance to do a GIS on its 500-MW liquefied natural gas plant in Batangas City, which is the biggest plant in the list.

Finally, the DOE has also cleared SPC Power Corp. to do a study on its 32-MW Power Barge 104 located in Subic, Zambales. The power barge was acquired from government mid-2016.

So far, 70 projects have been cleared for the conduct of GIS.

In 2015, the DOE has given GIS clearance to 133 projects.