THE Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has approved transmission facilities for three solar projects with a combined capacity of 205.5 megawatts (MW), allowing them to connect to the national grid.
In decisions released on Tuesday, the ERC authorized Casilagan Solar Power Corp., Magallanes Solar Energy Corp. and Linglingay Power Corp. to develop and own the facilities, costing a combined P1.83 billion.Casilagan’s 35.2-MW San Juan solar project in Botolan, Zambales, will connect to the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines’ (NGCP) 69-kilovolt (kV) Botolan substation.Its P385.42-million transmission facilities include a 50-megavolt-ampere (MVA) takeoff substation, switchyard, protection, metering and telecommunications equipment, and a 4.7-kilometer (km) single-circuit transmission line.Magallanes’ 100.3-MW Barotac Viejo solar plant in Iloilo, equipped with an 80.24-megawatt-hour battery energy storage system, will connect to NGCP’s 138-kV Barotac Viejo substation.The P844.2-million connection facilities comprise a takeoff substation with two 75-MVA transformers, a 2.33-km double-circuit transmission line and a bay expansion at the NGCP substation.Linglingay’s 70-MW solar project in Gamu, Isabela, will connect to NGCP’s 69-kV Gamu substation.Its P597.23-million facilities include a takeoff substation with a 65/75-MVA step-up transformer, protection and telecommunications equipment, and a 1.2-km double-circuit underground transmission line.The ERC found that construction of the San Juan and Barotac Viejo transmission facilities had not begun before approval. Linglingay’s facilities, however, were already 60-percent complete.The commission reminded generation companies and other grid users that they must secure its approval before developing or constructing similar facilities.Prior authorization ensures coordinated system planning and protects the grid’s integrity, security and reliability, the ERC said. It also helps prevent the unchecked development of unauthorized facilities that could compromise grid operations.
