A unit of Aboitiz Renewables Inc. is seeking approval from the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) for a P564.6-million grid integration project for its hybrid solar facility in Ilocos Norte. The company said the investment will allow its large-scale solar farm to connect to the Luzon grid and begin delivering power once construction is completed.
Northern Luzon Green Power Inc. (NLGPI), an Aboitiz-led company, plans to build, own and operate the dedicated interconnection facilities for its 187-megawatt-peak Talingaan-Laoag Solar Power Project. The solar farm will also include a 277-megawatt-hour battery energy storage system, designed to store excess electricity and release it when demand is high or supply is limited. This hybrid setup is expected to improve grid stability and ensure a more reliable power supply in the region.
The project will connect to the country’s transmission network through the 230-kilovolt Laoag substation operated by the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines in the Ilocos region. To make this possible, NLGPI is proposing to develop a dedicated transmission facility composed of high-voltage equipment, point-to-point transmission lines and other related components necessary to link the plant directly to the grid.
In its filing with the ERC, the company explained that the immediate construction of the interconnection facility is crucial. It said any delay in linking the solar power plant to the grid could result in lost opportunities and put additional pressure on the power system, especially as electricity demand continues to rise. The dedicated facility will be used solely by NLGPI to test, commission and dispatch the capacity of the Talingaan-Laoag Solar Power Project.
Under the Electric Power Industry Reform Act, power generation companies are allowed to develop and operate their own dedicated transmission facilities, provided these are used exclusively to connect their plants to the national grid. However, such projects require prior approval from the ERC.
While waiting for the commission’s decision, NLGPI has requested provisional authority or interim relief to proceed with the development and operation of the interconnection facility. The company believes there are sufficient grounds for the regulator to grant temporary approval so that the project timeline will not be affected.
This move follows a similar application by South Cleanergy Inc., another Aboitiz-led firm, which recently sought ERC approval for the P512.16-million grid interconnection of its solar farm with battery storage in Negros Occidental.
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