ERC OKs Alternergy’s P1.8 billion grid link project

MANILA, Philippines — The Energy Regulatory Commission has authorized Alternergy Holdings Corp. to build a P1.8-billion transmission facility linking its wind farm in Quezon to the Luzon grid.

The listed renewable energy firm, through Alabat Wind Power Corp. (AWPC), has proposed the grid integration of its 64-megawatt (MW) Alabat wind power plant.

The dedicated point-to-point transmission project involves the installation of a substation at the wind farm site and a 37-kilometer transmission system stretching the municipalities of Alabat and Lopez.

The project will be connected to the existing 68-kiloVolt Gumaca-Tagkawayan-Lopez transmission line of the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines through a switching station.

“This is another significant milestone achieved, bringing us closer to completing the Alabat wind power project,” AWPC president Gerry Magbanua said.

“With this approval, AWPC reaffirms our goal of promoting environmental stewardship through the development of renewable energy resources and supporting our host communities while ensuring a reliable and efficient energy supply to the grid,” Magbanua said.

The Quezon wind facility is among the five renewable power projects being constructed by Alternergy as part of efforts to reach a 500-MW capacity target by 2026.

Aside from the Alabat project, Alternergy is also developing the 128-MW Tanay wind power project in Rizal, which recently received its first wind turbine shipment.

Each of the project’s turbines, the largest to be deployed in the country to date, has a capacity of eight MW.

Founded by former energy secretary Vince Perez, Alternergy is engaged in the development of various RE projects, including wind, run-of-river hydro, solar farm and commercial rooftop, battery storage and offshore wind projects.