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The Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) has scheduled public hearings next month for the proposed 600-megawatt Wawa Pumped-Storage Hydropower Project in Rizal, including additional components tied to its planned transmission connection to the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP).

In a notice of public hearing posted on May 18, the EMB said project developer Olympia Violago Water & Power, Inc. (OVWPI), a majority-owned subsidiary of Razon-led Prime Infrastructure Capital, is seeking approval of the project’s Environmental Performance Report and Management Plan (EPRMP) covering the hydropower facility within the Wawa River Basin in Antipolo City and the municipalities of San Mateo and Rodriguez, Rizal.

The hearings will cover the project’s expansion from 500 MW to 600 MW, as well as additional infrastructure components, including a transmission line and the Calawis bypass road.

“The refinement and completion of the transmission line design, including coordination and confirmation with the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) on the final tie-in point, are intended to enhance grid integration, maintain system reliability, and ensure compliance with applicable engineering, operational, and safety standards,” the EMB document stated.

It added that the transmission component is “integral to maximizing the operational effectiveness of the project and supporting the growing demand for a stable and renewable energy supply.”

OVWPI’s planned bypass and access road in Barangay Calawis aims to reduce disruption to nearby communities during construction activities.

The 240.5-hectare project forms part of Prime Infra’s broader pumped-storage portfolio, which has emerged as one of the country’s largest energy storage development pipelines.

Earlier this year, Prime Infrastructure Capital Inc. secured PHP 273.47 billion in financing for its 2,000-MW pumped-storage portfolio, covering the 600-MW Wawa project and the 1,400-MW Pakil Pumped Storage Hydropower Plant in Laguna.

“These agreements will accelerate critical infrastructure investments and strengthen energy security and reliability, which are the foundations of the Philippines’ sustained economic growth,” Prime Infra President and CEO Guillaume Lucci said during the March financing signing.

The projects have been classified as Energy Projects of National Significance and were awarded capacities under the Department of Energy’s Green Energy Auction Program.

In February, First Gen Corp. also agreed to acquire a 40% equity interest in Prime Infra’s pumped-storage portfolio for PHP 75 billion, marking one of the largest recent investments in the country’s emerging long-duration energy storage sector.

“Together, these projects represent 2,000 MW of long-duration energy storage capacity, designed to provide large-scale grid balancing, system reliability, and renewable energy integration for the Luzon power system,” Prime Infra said at the time.

The EMB said public hearings for the Wawa project are scheduled on June 8 in Rodriguez, Rizal and June 9 in Antipolo City.

What do you think about the role of pumped-storage projects and NGCP integration in supporting the Philippines’ renewable energy transition?

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