Energy Virtual One-Stop Shop (EVOSS) system chairman of the Steering Committee, Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin, is vying for a 60-day process in issuing a system impact study (SIS) for grid connection of power projects instead of 20 months to 2 years.
In a report by the Manila Bulletin, Energy Secretary Raphael P.M. Lotilla emphasized that the plan to shorten the SIS approval to 60 days is to ensure project permitting, particularly with the increasing number of renewable energy (RE) installations in the country.
The EVOSS steering committee, along with the Energy secretary and the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), will deliberate on the specifics to determine the precise timeline for the new SIS process.
This came after investors complained about the extended deadline and this has been causing unjustified delays in project implementations.
Lotilla pointed out that other energy markets have already implemented multiple alternatives such as artificial intelligence (AI) or information technology (IT) tools for analyzing or processing data to shorten the time it takes to issue SIS or the engineering study needed for integrating an electric generating facility into the grid’s load network.
He added that as per NGCP, the queue for the application was pushed back by investors who are “not serious” about the filing as the application is on a ‘first come, first served’ basis. NGCP noted that only 50% of SIS applicants actually carried out the projects.