DOE endorses 16 power projects for commercial operations

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Energy (DOE) has endorsed 16 power projects for commercial operations as of the end of September.

The agency issued certificates of endorsement (COE) for these projects, which have a combined capacity of 856.6 megawatts (MW).

Of the 16 endorsed projects, four are diesel-fired power plants, four biomass plants, three hybrid plants, two hydropower plants, two coal-fired plants and one solar plant, data from the DOE showed.

The latest projects endorsed are the 60-MW biomass power plant expansion in Victorias City, Negros Occidental, and a 44.58-MW diesel-fired power plant in Brgy. Colon, Naga, Cebu.

The biggest project in the list is the 353.94-MW coal-fired power plant in Toledo, Cebu under Therma Visayas Inc., AboitizPower and partner Vivant Corp.

It is followed by the 150-MW diesel power plant of Ingrid Power Holdings Inc. in Barangay Malaya, Pililla, Rizal, and the 115-MW solar power plant of Solar Philippines Tarlac Corp. in Concepcion, Tarlac.

Meanwhile, the company with the most projects cleared belongs to FP Island Corp., which owns and operates three hybrid power projects in Caramoan, Camarines Sur, namely the Garchitorena, Lahuy and Haponan projects.

The COE is a requirement for the issuance of certificate of compliance (COC) by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), which is necessary before any generation company can commence commercial operations.

The COC has a term of five years during which period the generators are required to comply with the terms and conditions set forth in the ERC’s guidelines which include reportorial, technical and financial requirements.