Alternergy Holdings Corporation has started commercial operations of its 5-megawatt Dupinga run-of-river hydro power plant in Gabaldon, Nueva Ecija. 

The project, developed through subsidiary Dupinga Mini Hydro Corporation, will supply electricity to Nueva Ecija Electric Cooperative II – Area 2 under a 25-year power supply agreement. As an embedded generation facility, the plant is expected to improve the reliability and quality of electricity within the cooperative’s franchise area, particularly in Gabaldon and nearby municipalities.

Alternergy said the 5-MW facility will generate about 23,000 megawatt-hours annually, enough to supply around 13,000 households, while helping avoid an estimated 16,500 metric tons of carbon emissions each year.

“The start of the commercial operations of Balsik Solar and now Dupinga ROR Hydro completes Alternergy’s Triple Play portfolio of wind, solar and hydro renewable resources,” said Gerry P. Magbanua, president of Alternergy. “With hydro now online, our Triple Play strategy of diversifying revenues across complementary technologies is expected to boost Alternergy’s asset base and share value to our investors.”

The Dupinga hydro plant is the company’s second renewable energy facility to go online this year, following the commissioning of its 28-MWp Balsik solar power plant in Bataan in February.

Eduardo Martinez Miranda, president of Alternergy Mini Hydro Holdings Corporation, said the project faced multiple hurdles during development.

“The Dupinga Project was a long time in the making. It navigated through the impacts of various challenges from permitting to indigenous peoples engagements to climate-related events, pandemic and geopolitics,” he said. “Teamwork, perseverance and patience held the Dupinga Project together to the finish line.”

The project incorporates engineering measures designed to minimize environmental impact, including a three-kilometer concrete headrace and a one-kilometer steel siphon system aligned with the mountain’s natural contours.

Located at the far end of NEECO II-Area 2’s franchise, the plant also serves as a “last mile” supply solution, with associated upgrades in the distribution system expected to enhance power quality in underserved areas.

With Dupinga and Balsik now operational, Alternergy said it is advancing additional projects slated for completion within the year, including the 128-MW Tanay and 64-MW Alabat wind power projects. These are expected to bring the company’s total new capacity additions to 225 MW as it works toward its target of developing one gigawatt of renewable energy capacity by 2030.

The company said it is also preparing to advance another run-of-river hydro project in Kiangan, Ifugao.

How critical are embedded generation projects like Dupinga in addressing last-mile electrification and improving grid resilience in provincial franchise areas?

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