THE Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has approved BKS Green Energy Corp. and Solar Valley Energy Solutions Inc.’s construction of transmission facilities in Isabela that will connect their solar projects to the national grid.
BKS Green was authorized to develop, own and operate point-to-point facilities to connect its 5.013-megawatt alternating current (MWac) Limbauan solar power plant Phase 1 located in San Pablo, Isabela, to the Cabagan Substation of Isabela II Electric Cooperative.
Phase 1 of the transmission facilities for the Limbauan plant consist of a 6-megavolt-ampere, 800 volt/13.8-kV takeoff substation and medium voltage switchgear, including protection and telecommunication equipment, and a 4.4-kilometer (km) 13.8-kV, single circuit transmission line.
The estimated cost of these facilities was reported at about P24.6 million.
Also approved was Solar Valley’s construction of transmission facilities to connect its 50-MWac San Pablo solar power plant in Isabela to the grid. The San Pablo plant will tap the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP’s) Tuguegarao-Cabagan 69-kilovolt (kV) transmission line as an interim connection scheme. The final connection will be via a direct connection to NGCP’s Tuguegarao 69-kV substation.
The San Pablo project comprises a 50/60-MVA, 34.5/69-kV takeoff substation, including protection, metering and telecommunication equipment; and a 500-meter, single-circuit transmission line from the plant’s takeoff substation to NGCP’s Tuguegarao-Cabagan 69-kV transmission line for the interim connection. For the final connection, there will be a 19.8-km, double-circuit transmission line from the plant’s takeoff substation to NGCP’s Tuguegarao 69-kV substation.
The ERC said the estimated cost of the facilities was adjusted to about P514.7 million from P276.35 million.
The regulator found that for the Limbauan plant, its transmission facilities had already been completed in 2025 prior to ERC approval, while construction of the San Pablo solar plant transmission facilities were still ongoing.
The ERC reiterated that generation companies and grid users planning similar projects must obtain prior authorization before starting construction. The requirement is intended to ensure coordinated system planning, and protect the integrity and security of the electricity grid.
