The Department of Energy (DOE) approved four renewable energy (RE) projects and one gas-fired project for a grid impact study to determine if their output is usable by the power grid.

The approved projects are the 1,100-megawatt (MW) Combined Cycle Gas Turbine Project of Limay LNG Power Corp. in Limay town, Bataan province; the 80-MW San Jose del Monte Solar Power Project of Manresa Power Corp. in San Jose del Monte City, Bulacan province; the 25-MW Biomass Power Plant Project of North Negros Biopower Inc. in Manapla town, Negros Occidental province; the second phase of the Nabas wind farm of PetroWind Energy Inc. in Malay town, Aklan province that has a 14-MW capacity; and the 14-MW Banale Solar Power Plant of Astronergy Development Pagadian Inc. in Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur province.

Back in June, Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi announced that the country is projected to require an additional 10,000 MW of energy from this year to 2021.

Based on the department’s Power Development Plan 2016-2040, peak demand will increase to 49,287 MW in 2040 in line with projections of gross domestic product (GDP) growth.

“This increase is translated to a 6 percent annual average growth rate from 2016 to 2040. On a per-grid basis, Mindanao is projected to have the highest annual average growth at 8 percent, followed by Visayas at 7 percent and Luzon at 5 percent,” it said.

Energy Undersecretary Felix William Fuetebella said in a report that the department is confident it will secure its goal of additional capacity by 2021 and provide the country with efficient power supply.

Source 1