THE country’s first hybrid-powered mini-grid project in Sabang, Palawan, which will be completed this month, is a much-needed boost to help government achieve a 100-percent household electrification by 2022.
“Sabang Renewable Energy Corp.’s [SREC] hybrid mini-grid project is the first hybrid—solar, diesel and battery—system in off-grid areas under the Qualified Third Party [QTP] program to support the country’s total electrification program. The area to be served by the project will experience 24/7 electricity services,” Department of Energy (DOE) Undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella said.
QTP was designed to attract alternative service providers and private investments in rural electrification.
In order to qualify for the QTP, the DOE said interested firms must pass the accreditation process. QTP firms must have the power generation and distribution facilities to service remote areas where the distribution lines of power cooperatives cannot be immediately extended. Once accredited, QTP firms can select areas for development and implement their plan upon approval from the DOE.
The Energy Regulatory Commission issued a provisional authority to SREC to operate as QTP on October 26, 2018.
When asked why the DOE approved the project, Fuentebella said this was consistent with Section 59 of the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 (Epira), which introduced alternative service providers to areas that cannot be served by the franchised distribution utility.
“The area was waived by the Palawan Electric Cooperative [Paleco] because it was found to be unviable for energization through conventional grid connected electrification,” he said.
Moreover, he said, the solar-battery-genset hybrid system “serves as a showcase for off-grid/mini-grid electrification projects” that supports the DOE.
SREC’s project will provide stable, reliable and renewable energy that will power further growth in Sitio Sabang, Barangay Cabayugan, where the Puerto Princesa Subterranean National Park is located.
SREC is a consortium of Vivant Energy Corp., Gigawatt Power Inc. and WEnergy Global. It will operate a hybrid power plant—combining solar panels and diesel engines—and an electricity distribution system in Barangay Cabayugan, Puerto Princesa City.
“We are not merely installing four diesel engines and a 1.4-megawatt peak [MWp] solar energy system. We’ve been building our own grid from the ground up, and erecting electrical poles and cables spanning 14 kilometers since April 2018,” SREC Chairman Emil Garcia had said.
Under optimal conditions, the hybrid plant will generate as much as 2.6-MW once it is completed. This will allow the mini-grid to provide power to approximately 10 public buildings, 18 small businesses, 19 hotels and restaurants, and 583 households.
“By combining solar panels and diesel-fueled power generation, SREC will save the environment from over 25,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide while providing stable and reliable energy that will improve everyday living in Cabayugan,” the chairman said.
“We want to provide Sitio Sabang and Barangay Cabayugan with reliable electricity 24/7 at the most competitive rate possible,” Garcia said. “Since we will be the model for future mini-grids in the country, we have spared no expense or effort in ensuring that we give the best service. It’s vital that we uplift the quality of life for our new kababayans,” he said.