Pan Pacific Renewable Power Philippines Corp. is securing environmental permits for its planned 250-megawatt (MW) hydroelectric power project that will be put up in the province of Apayao at an estimated cost of P21.85 billion.
In its application, the company said the proposed hydro project is meant to support the government’s goal of having at least a 35-percent renewable energy (RE) share in the power generation mix by 2030 and 50 percent by 2040.
“The proposed 250MW Gened-2 Hydroelectric Power Project [HEPP] was conceptualized in support to the commitment of the Philippine government with the United Nations towards its 17 Sustainable Development Goals and the Department of Energy [DOE] National Energy Plan which aims to ensure energy security from the foreseen power shortage due to the lack of additional generation capacity by increasing the country’s installed capacity and expanding the renewable energy.”
The proposed project has been declared as an “Energy Project of National Significance.”
“The foreseen impacts are aligned with the Cordillera Regional Development Plan [RDP] which aims for a Resilient Economic Transformation that would benefit the whole population of the Cordillera. The increased supply of renewable energy will lessen the country’s dependence on conventional fuels such as diesel and coal.”
Gened-2 HEPP will regulate inflow to the proposed downstream Gened-1 HEPP, which is also being developed by Pan Pacific.
“Gened-1 HEPP and 2 HEPP will therefore form a two stage cascade. The reservoir of Gened-2 will therefore provide inter-seasonal regulation of inflow for Gened-1, the reservoir of which will mostly be providing intraday storage. Gened-2 HEPP is expected to increase the production of the downstream Gened-1 HEPP.”
Previously, the power firm had applied for similar permits for Gened-1 HEPP, which will have an installed capacity of 150 MW and will cost P19.8 billion.
The 150MW Gened-1 HEPP is currently in the development stage under the hydro service contract with the DOE. It has already completed all necessary pre-development permits and is now under the process of securing relevant construction permits and is under negotiations with the potential engineering, procurement, construction contractor.
Among all RE sources, impounding hydropower plays a crucial role in providing reliable and efficient generation due to its water storage which could provide energy either as a base load or peak load.
