Fort Pilar Energy’s 650-megawatt (MW) Malaya Thermal Power Plant (MTPP) in Pililla, Rizal and UPC Renewables’ 500MW Dalupiri Island Wind Power Project in Calayan, Cagayan are among the latest power ventures that the Department of Energy endorsed to the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines for system impact study, bringing the total to 54 for 2021.
Endorsed on July 19, the MTPP is the largest addition to the list since start of the second half of the year. The Dalupiri project, the only wind venture among the new inclusions, is also the next biggest and was endorsed on August 25.
Fort Pilar Energy, owned by the family of businessman-politician Michael “Mikee” Romero, purchased Malaya from government-owned Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation in late August after winning the bidding in May. It plans to convert the plant into a “modern energy facility.”
UPC, meanwhile, is Ayala-led AC Energy’s partner in the 160MW Balaoi wind farm project in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte, as well as several renewable energy ventures in Asia and Australia.
Four solar projects are also among the additions with at least 250MW in total capacity. These are Aboitiz Power Corporation’s Laoag (57.8MW) and Laoag 2 (71.4MW) projects in Aguilar, Pangasinan; Totalpower, Inc.’s 151.2 megawatt-peak (MWp) San Isidro project in Leyte; and Global Business Power Corporation’s 80MW (115MWp) Pinugay project in Baras, Rizal, which began construction works in July.
Converge Power Generation Corporation is the only new liquefied natural gas (LNG) venture with its 139.9MW Cebu LNG Power Plant project in Lapu-Lapu City.
Three battery energy storage system (BESS) projects are also part of the additions, namely Gritstone Lead Power Corporation’s 40MW venture in San Rafael, Bulacan; SMC Global Power Holdings’ 20MW facility in Mexico, Pampanga; and SPC Power Corporation’s 2MW Power Barge 104 BESS project in Ubay, Bohol.
For the diesel projects, SMC Global Power has the 41MW Sangali project in Zamboanga City; while SPC Power has the Panay Diesel Power Plant 1 – Unit 3 (1.85MW), Echo (3.75MW), and Hotel (3.75MW) projects, all located in Tabugon, Iloilo.