To accommodate the rising demand for renewable energy (RE) supply, wind developers say that grid management and consistent policies are needed to support offshore and onshore wind projects.
At the 2nd Philippine Onshore Offshore Wind & Energy Storage Summit held in Sheraton Manila Bay, developers flagged that most of the issues they encountered were transmission lines and policies.
First Gen Business Development Director Bryan Lucas said, “All these transmission lines being built by NGCP, even those that are planned until 2040, they can’t take all those gigawatts of wind energy… So by our estimates, maybe one or two big offshore wind power plants will take away all the available grid capacity.”
Lucas further added that the government had already been collaborating with the private sector in order to smooth out the issues in grid transmissions and policies.
“So I like the way the government is collaborating very well with the private sector. It’s really a two-way conversation nowadays. Even developers are working together, we’re reviewing, we’re commenting on government policies. So that’s a good thing because it will prepare us for the future,” Lucas added.
Denmark Ambassador Franz-Michael Mellbin who was also at the event, said that the grid should be ready and upgraded to accommodate the insets of variable energy outputs. With offshore wind projects tending to be large-scale, the industry should work together to ensure that it would materialize.
Furthermore, Mellbin said that the government along with the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) worked together to guarantee the successful outcome of the Green Energy Option Program (GEOP).
“We want the best price for the consumers, the most energy out there, and we also need to make it attractive for the investors. Striking that right balance is a fine-tuning exercise. I’m happy to see the government is working towards fine-tuning where it is now,” Mellbin added.
Meanwhile, Department of Energy (DOE) Assistant Secretary Mylene Capongcol assured that they are working on driving the renewable energy industry to its proposed target of 50% by 2040, as ‘succeeding in this endeavor will result in a reduction of 271 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2040.’
In addition to ensuring that the addition of new capacities would come from a wide range of energy sources and utilizing emerging technologies, the government considered deploying a smart grid plan.
“We need a rapid expansion of the grid and assist in maintaining its integrity and reliability,” Capongol said.
Power Philippines is the official media partner of the 2nd Philippine Onshore Offshore Wind & Energy Storage Summit.