NGCP starts operating new power control center for Mindanao grid

MANILA, Philippines - The National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) has started operations of its new power control center for the Mindanao grid.

In a statement, the country’s transmission service provider said it invested P147 million for the facility that was completed on April 19, 2012.

The new building that is located in Carmen, Cagayan de Oro City houses state-of-the-art Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition (SCADA) and Emergency Management Systems (EMS) and telecommunications equipment.

SCADA refers to a collection of computers, equipment and application software integrated into a system to acquire real-time data on power system parameters and to provide monitoring and control facility for remote devices such as breakers.

EMS, on the other hand, is composed of a SCADA system with integrated advanced applications used in the management of the power grid.

NGCP said the new office building will replace the operations center in Iligan City.

“The new regional control center serves as the nerve center for grid operations in Mindanao equipped with modern power monitoring and control systems,” NGCP said.

The Carmen substation was chosen given the area’s technical, business and security viability.

NGCP said the site was selected for its proximity to customers and stakeholders, an international airport, commercial amenities and military and police installations for emergency situations.

“Considering that load center of power generation and the expansion of NGCP backbone facilities has moved geographically away from the Agus Complex in Iligan City to the northeastern and southern parts on Mindanao, NGCP deemed it best to move the regional control center as well,” the company added.

NGCP’s partner State Grid Corp. of China (SGCC) operates regional control centers in China at the heart of urbanized cities.

Earlier, NGCP installed an upgraded version of this system called the OPEN3000, replacing the GE System for its System Operations-National Control Center (SO-NCC) in Quezon City.

SO-NCC acts as a power hub that dispatches all generation facilities and loads directly or indirectly connected to the transmission system.

“This will translate to more efficient, reliable, and secure grid operations consistent with NGCP’s goal of building stronger transmission for a stronger nation,” the grid operator said.