ERC okays grid connection for Trans-Asia’s 54-MW Guimaras wind farm

MANILA, Philippines - The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has approved the application of Trans-Asia Renewable Energy Corp. (Tarec) to put up facilities that would enable it to connect its 54-megawatt wind farm in Guimaras to the Visayas grid.

Tarec is the renewable energy arm of the Phinma Group’s Trans-Asia Oil and Development Corp.

In its application, Tarec sought authority to develop, own and operate dedicated point-to-point limited facilities for its San Lorenzo wind farm project to connect to the Visayas grid through the transmission facilities of the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP).

 “To dispatch the power to be generated by the San Lorenzo wind farm project, it proposes to be connected to the Visayas grid through the transmission system of the NGCP, which is the most feasible means to dispatch power and put into beneficial use the generated capacity of the said San Lorenzo wind farm project,” Tarec said.

Interconnection projects such as what Tarec proposed requires the approval of the ERC according to the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 (EPIRA), the power reform law, which states that “ a generation company may develop and own or operate dedicated point-to-point limited transmission facilities that are consistent with the Transmission Development Plan. Provided that such facilities are required only for the purpose of connecting to the transmission system and are used solely by the generating facilities subject to prior authorization by the ERC.”

The 54-megawatt wind farm project will cover four barangays of San Lorenzo, Guimaras. It is comprised of 27 wind turbine generators at two MW each.

The project has yet to commence commercial operations but initially targeted to start in the third quarter of the year.

The San Lorenzo wind farm project will be using an interim connection to the Visayas grid, specifically to the interconnection point at Zaldviar Switchyard located at Buenavista, Guimaras through a dedicated point-to-point 27-km long 69-kv overhead transmission line, three-km long of submarine cable to be connected via cut-in initially at the Sta. Barbara – Ingore 69-kv line with related facilities and to be constructed and owned by Tarec. Ultimately, the wind farm project shall be permanently connected to the Panay Energy Development Corp. 138-kv substation in Ingore as soon as the said substation is reclassified as a transmission asset, Tarec said.