BY GEROME DALIPE IV
ILOILO City – The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) has finally completed the much-awaited 230 kilovolt (kV) Cebu-Negros-Panay (CNP) backbone project stage 3.
Adrianne Dave Guilas, senior associate at Issues Management Group, Inc., the public relations firm hired by Palm Concepcion Power Corporation (PCPC), yesterday confirmed the completion of the transmission project.
“This would substantially enhance the grid system in the region,” Guilas told Panay News.
How will the project completion improve Panay’s power deficit?
The CNP backbone project is considered one of the significant transmission infrastructure initiatives of the NGCP, the country’s sole power grid operator.
It aims to connect the islands of Cebu, Negros and Panay by importing power from Mindanao Luzon grid interconnection using the 230kV Transmission Line. Hence, it is seen to enhance the reliability and efficiency of power transmission in the Visayas region.
The completion of the transmission project is expected to upgrade the capacity of the existing submarine cable and improve sharing of excess power generation from the rest of the grid towards Negros and Panay islands.
The long-delayed completion of the CNP backbone project limits the capacity of power import of Panay from Negros grid thru the existing 138kV Negros-Panay submarine cable, resulting in the long duration of Panay grid blackout.
But with its completion, ancillary services or standby reserve of NGCP for the Visayas from Cebu may now be augmented in Panay to prevent blackout due to the absence of an N-1 or alternate grid connection in Panay Island.
The completion of the CNP backbone project will also expand the overall capacity of the Visayas grid, allowing for future growth in electricity demand.
The CNP backbone project is seen to improve the resilience of the Visayas grid by providing alternative transmission routes. This can help reduce the impact of disruptions such as typhoons or equipment failures.
Its completion will enable more efficient exchange of power between Cebu, Negros and Panay. It will help balance supply and demand in the region, leading to more stable electricity prices.
The CNP backbone project also aims to facilitate the integration of renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar power, into the Visayas grid.
The project’s completion also just came in time as the PCPC has shut down its 135-megawatt (MW) coal-fired power plant in Concepcion, Iloilo to undergo a preventive maintenance system (PMS).
The power plant was shut down from February 18 until March 30, 2024, in line with this year’s Annual Preventive Maintenance Service (PMS).
The plant was scheduled for maintenance to perform a “major overhaul of the turbine and generator.”
It developed after General Electric (GE), an independent service contractor they hired, inspected and tested the plant and discovered the generator “sustained stator insulation damage.”
In the absence of the power plant’s generator, the PCPC found the replacement power needed to comply with their power supply agreements at no additional cost to their consumers.
The generator parts will be sourced from other suppliers like the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) and various generators.
“We are working closely with the NGCP as we believe that they can help us mitigate the situation by continuing to provide a portion of its reserves,” said Guilas.
He added that PCPC has yet to determine with the service contractor the actual expenses it will incur in the repair of the damage in the generator.
There are currently seven distribution utilities (DUs) under a contract agreement with PCPC with four power utilities in Negros, one in Southern Leyte, and one DU each from Cebu and Bohol.
Meanwhile, the Department of Energy (DOE) said it is closely monitoring the integrity and reliability of the grid by continuously updating the power outlook that considers any changes, particularly in the operations of power generating units.
The energy department assured the public the NGCP and all DUs are ready to activate and implement their Interruptible Load Program (ILP) while the National Electrification Administration (NEA) is providing the necessary assistance to the electric cooperatives (ECs) in the implementation of their load program.
The DOE also called on the public to continue practicing energy conservation to minimize the cost of running oil-based power plants during the warm and dry season spawned by the El Niño phenomenon.
“The summer period exerts significant pressure on electricity demand due to increased cooling needs, leading to peak demand shifts in consumption and infrastructure strain. We are, therefore, closely coordinating with all the stakeholders to carefully manage and plan for the effects of the summer period and the ongoing El Niño to ensure a reliable and sustainable electricity supply. At the same time we request the support of everyone during this challenging period by being conscious in our use of electricity,” Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla said./PN
