Napocor powers more off-grid areas

MANILA, Philippines — The National Power Corp. (Napocor) continues to bring power to remote regions with the energization of two new off-grid areas in Palawan.

As part of its commitment to providing reliable electricity in remote communities, Napocor said it recently energized off-grid areas in Taytay and Culion in Palawan.

In Taytay, a barangay has been powered with two 50-kilowatt (kW) genset units giving electricity to 53 households.

A 30-kW generating unit in Galoc Island, a barangay under the municipality of Culion, was likewise inaugurated, providing 90 households with electricity.

With these areas now having electricity, Napocor expects local livelihood to get a much-needed boost.

“By bringing power to remote regions, the National Power Corporation has effectively paved the way for enhanced living standards and increased economic activities,” it said.

Napocor currently operates and maintains a total of 27 Small Power Utilities Group (SPUG) plants in Palawan with the addition of the two new power facilities.

Last July, Napocor also switched on two new power plants in Palawan, making electricity accessible to hundreds of households on the islands.

As mandated by the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001, Napocor is tasked to provide electricity and associated power components in off-grid islands and communities in the country.

It is in this capacity that the corporation operates over 280 SPUG plants serving 125 islands across the country.

These off-grid islands are currently powered mostly by diesel plants through the Napocor-SPUG.

Napocor, however, is currently seeking assistance from the private sector to accelerate efforts to transition the operations of off-grid areas in the country to renewable energy.

It is looking to implement a hybridization project for Napocor-SPUG diesel power plants using renewable energy resources through private sector participation.