The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) has officially energized the Mindanao-Visayas Interconnection Project (MVIP), as part of the goal to improve power stability and reliability across the country.
An initial load of 22.5 megawatts (MW) was carried out during the energization on April 30.
“We expect to gradually increase the MVIP’s transfer capacity to 50MW by mid-May, and 112MW by the end of the month, before energizing to its full transfer capacity of 450MW by the third quarter of this year,” NGCP said in a statement.
The MVIP includes a 184 circuit-kilometer (ckm) high-voltage direct current (HVDC) submarine transmission line that connects the Mindanao and Visayas Grid, obtaining a transfer capacity of 450 MW expandable to 900 MW.
Following full operations in July, the MVIP will allow power-sharing of 450 MW of initial capacity between Visayas and Mindanao to prevent supply shortage. Excess power from the line will then be transmitted to Luzon – creating one connected grid throughout the country.
“The completion of the Mindanao-Visayas Interconnection Project is a significant achievement for us and for the Philippines as a whole. This will not only improve the reliability of our transmission services but will lead to efficient energy utilization as one Philippine grid,” NGCP said.