DOE wants Agus plants optimized for summer season

by Myrna Velasco March 23, 2016

http://www.mb.com.ph/doe-wants-agus-plants-optimized-for-summer-season/

To face up with power supply criticality during the summer months and particularly during the election period, the Department of Energy (DOE) is setting forth a policy intending to optimize the capacity utilization of the Agus and other hydropower plants in Mindanao grid.

This is based on draft Circular that the department has issued – and it is now soliciting comments and inputs on from affected stakeholders.

The department noted “the usage of hydro resources in Mindanao grid, particularly the Agus hydroelectric power plants, shall be optimized to ensure their efficient, effective and sustainable operations.”

It thus directed state-run firms Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation (PSALM) and National Power Corporation “to optimize Agus plant capacity for dispatch in such manner that the minimum operating level of 699.15 meters above sea level (masl) will not be reached during the peak summer months”; given also that there are already new available plants in the grid.

In essence, the government is intending to stretch the operation of the Agus power facilities so Mindanao’s predicament with power interruptions could be substantially eased if they cannot be totally avoided.

System operator National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), for its part, has been directed “to optimize the use of all available capacity based on the revised nomination and dispatch protocol to maintain load-generation balance and the required reserves.”’

It was further stated that NGCP shall comply with the directives of the propounded Circular, primarily in implementing “the revised nomination and dispatch protocol” for generating plants.

PSALM and NPC were further instructed to “prepare and submit to NGCP, nomination of all (their) available capacities in Mindanao grid so as not to breach the minimum operating level of Laka Lanao at 699.15 masl with due consideration to all available units.”

The Mindanao Generation (MinGen) unit of NPC has also been tasked to come up with its “drought watch”, as anchored on water conservation when lake elevation intersects the seasonal drawdown limit (SSDL).”

The SSDL, which is defined as the highest actual elevation of the previous year minus 1.50 meters but should not be lower than the minimum allowable level equivalent to 698.15 masl, shall be submitted by MinGen to DOE and NGCP so these can be disseminated accordingly to all stakeholders.