THE Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has approved two energy firms’ construction of facilities connecting their solar projects to the national grid.
One Ilocos Norte Energy Corp., which has a 26 megawatt-alternating current (MWac) Nueva Era embedded solar power project with a 16.886 megawatt-hours battery energy storage system, was given approval to build a 25/31.25 megavolt-ampere, 34.5/69-kV take-off substation, including protection and telecommunications equipment, and a 23.57-kilometer transmission line with a total project cost of P484.5 million.
Jin Navitas Solaris Inc., meanwhile, was given the go-signal to connect its 49.95 MWac Ajut 1 solar power project in Iloilo to the national grid via National Grid Corp. of the Philippines’ Concepcion-Sara 69-kilovolt transmission line.
Its transmission facilities consist of a 20 MVA, 69/33-kV and 40 MVA, 69/33-kV take-off substations along with protection and telecommunications equipment for both, a reactive static volt amperes reactive generator and a 120 MVA, 69/33-kV power transformer, a 69-kV bus at the take-off substation, a 4.924 km, 69-kV transmission line and a switching station.
The total project cost for these facilities amount to P636.2 million.
The ERC found that construction of the Nueva Era solar power project had already begun in 2024 but had yet to be finished, while construction of the Ajut 1 transmission facilities started in January this year and was completed last June.
The regulator 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.
