The Sabang Renewable Energy Corp. (SERC) will put up the country’s first hybrid-powered micro-grid in Sabang, Palawan that looks to cut down diesel consumption and generate savings on rural electrification.
SREC has broken ground its hybrid microgrid project consisting of a 1.4 – megawatt peak (MWp) solar PV, a 2.3-megawatt-hour (MWh) battery storage, and 1.2-MW diesel generators to fire up its 14-circuit kilometer distribution utility.
The project is seen to run by 2019. It will be operated under and Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) – approved Qualified Third Party (QTP) Agreement with the Palawan Electric Cooperative (Paleco).
As a QTP, SREC is authorized to generate and distribute electricity in Barangay Cabayugan – which has been waived from PALECO’s franchise area.
SREC president and CEO Walden Tantuico said that the solar PV/battery system will enable the company to give an average of 50 percent of clean power to the gird.
It added that P298 billion to P527 million can be saved over 20 years for rural electrification through the project.
These savings will help the government in accelerating its rural electrification program while promoting renewable energy development.
Moreover, the project will avoid around 25,700 metric-tons of CO2-equivalent emissions in the 20 year period.
“SREC’s investment and operations will provide a catalyst to greater business and economic activity in the region. Beyond an increase in tourism investments and arrivals, the electricity infrastructure will spur the creation of more enterprises to improve the standard of living of Palaweños,” Puerto Princesa City mayor Lucilo Bayron said.
The Sabang project is the first of its kind ERC and Department of Energy (DOE) approved project in the Philippines, and in Southeast Asia.
SREC is a joint venture project between Singapore-based WEnergy Global, Gigawatt Power Inc., and Vivant Corp.
