Enrique Razon-led Prime Infrastructure Capital Inc.’s subsidiary Ahunan Power, Inc., has secured an original proponent status to offer 500 megawatts (MW) of mid-merit supply to the Manila Electric Co. (MERALCO).
Ahunan Power will be using a pumped storage hydropower (PSH) as an energy storage system for the power supply.
“We are pleased to continue putting forward innovative solutions to Meralco and consequently having been granted the Original Proponent status to Ahunan. We look forward to the opportunity of further providing renewable energy sources that are reliable and sustainable,” Prime Infra Chairman Enrique K. Razon said in a statement.
Ahunan Power’s offer is subject to competitive challenges under the rules and regulations of the Department of Energy (DOE).
The Prime Infra unit nominated two PSH plants to supply the 500 MW mid-merit requirement. One is a 1,200 MW net dependable capacity PSH plant in Laguna which is already in the pre-development stage, and the other is a 500 MW net dependable capacity plant in Wawa, Rizal under Olympia Violago Water & Power, Inc.
The two plants are capable of a minimum guaranteed output of 12 hours a day, which covers the peak hours of MERALCO.
“This project is a testament to our goal of integrating ESG in the critical infrastructure assets that we deliver. Prime Infra will continue to pioneer energy and other infrastructure projects that are environmentally resilient and socially relevant,” Prime Infra President and CEO Guillaume Lucci said.
A pump storage hydropower, as defined by the US Department of Energy, is a “configuration of two water reservoirs at different elevations that can generate power as water moves down from one to the other (discharge), passing through a turbine.” The system acts like a battery system as it can store power and release it when needed.
