Electricity demand to reach all-time high this year–NGCP

By Elijah Felice Rosales - March 28, 2019

https://businessmirror.com.ph/2019/03/28/electricity-demand-to-reach-all-time-high-this-year-ngcp/

Consumer demand for power is expected to hit an all-time high this year, the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) said on Wednesday.

“The demand for power has been increasing year-on-year. With DOE’s [Department of Energy] forecast breaching 11,000 megawatts [MW], NGCP’s system operations is working round-the-clock to ensure the sufficient supply of power during the critical summer months,” the grid operator said.

Demand in Luzon is expected to peak at 11,403 MW in May this year, up by 85 percent from a high of 10,876 MW recorded on May 28, 2018.

Peak power periods in Luzon normally occur in April and May, with the rising temperatures, prompting a spike in demand.

The Visayas and Mindanao both recorded new highs in peak demand last year at 2,053 MW on May 24 and 1,853 MW on December 13, respectively. This year, the DOE projects an 11.98-percent increase in the Visayas load growth with forecasted peak at 2,299 MW, while demand in Mindanao is estimated at 2,130 MW. The forecasted peak demand for both is expected to happen in the last quarter of 2019.

The NGCP assured that it is continuously developing the power grid to accommodate additional loads from power generation and enable them better transmission of power across the country.

“We are expediting the completion of projects aimed to accommodate the increase in demand. NGCP appeals for the support and coordination of local government units and the public as we hope to complete these projects at the soonest possible time to prevent any negative impact on power supply during the dry season ahead,” it said.

The NGCP also advised the public to use energy more efficiently.

NGCP is a Filipino-led firm in charge of operating, maintaining and developing the country ‘s power grid, led by majority shareholders Henry Sy Jr. and Robert Coyuto Jr.

Vivant expands Palawan power projects

Danessa Rivera (The Philippine Star) - March 28, 2019 - 12:00am

https://www.philstar.com/business/2019/03/28/1905065/vivant-expands-palawan-power-projects

MANILA, Philippines — Cebu-based Vivant Corp. and its partner are committed to expand their power projects in Palawan to resolve the power supply problems and serve the growing demand in the island.

Vivant said its joint venture projects with Gigawatt Power Inc. (GPI) have expansion plans to ensure adequate power supply to serve the island’s needs.

This will complement the distribution developments of the Palawan Electric Cooperative (Paleco).

“Ultimately, that combined with the upcoming system improvements covered by Paleco’s ERC-approved capex program and Delta P Inc. (DPI) and Calamian Islands Power Corp. (CIPC)’s proven track records of service are poised to be the three catalysts that will help alleviate Palawan’s power supply problems for good,” DPI and CIPC president Walden Tantuico said.

He was referring to the recent approval by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) of Paleco’s capex program, which is aimed at improving its ability to serve the needs of its member-consumers.

DPI is the largest and most reliable new power provider in mainland Palawan served by Paleco, while CIPC has significantly improved the power supply and reliability situation in Busuanga Island covered by Busuanga Island Electric Cooperative (BISELCO).

Both operations have been providing Palawan with reliable power supply for nearly a decade.

DPI had built a 30-megawatt (MW) bunker base load expansion power plant in Bgy. Sta. Lourdes, Puerto Princesa City after mainland Palawan experienced unusually frequent brownouts in summer 2016.

The project started operations on March 15, 2017 despite the threat that regulatory approvals may not allow full recovery of its investment. The ERC approved the project only on May 11, 2017.

To-date, the National Power Corp. still owes DPI some P30 million in capacity and energy fees.

Meanwhile, CIPC helped alleviate regular blackouts within the franchise of BISELCO, which has upgraded its rating to AA under National Electrification Administration’s Electric Cooperative overall performance assessment.

This helped boost tourism and construction development in and around the island, which continues to drive demand and the need for additional generation capacity in order to sustain the island’s growth.

AboitizPower sets P50-B capex this year

Danessa Rivera (The Philippine Star) - March 27, 2019 - 12:00am

https://www.philstar.com/business/2019/03/27/1904756/aboitizpower-sets-p50-b-capex-year

MANILA, Philippines — Aboitiz Power Corp. has budgeted at least P50 billion in capital expenditures this year, focused on the continued development of its coal-fired power plants and pursuit of renewable energy projects.

Of the total, about 80 percent is for thermal projects, while the remaining balance is “mainly for exploratory and operating activities.”

AboitizPower continues to pursue both renewable projects and thermal technologies.

“The company believes that no single technology that can completely address the country’s energy requirements and that a mix of power generation technologies is necessary to address the country’s needs,” it added.

So far, the company is on track to reach its target of 4,000 megawatts (MW) net attributable capacity by 2020. It has around 3,200 MW beneficial capacity to-date.

AboitizPower has investments in various thermal and renewable power generating facilities with a total net sellable capacity of 3,350 MW with its partners.

Its Cleanergy brand hit 1,272 MW, 39 percent of its total net sellable capacity.

AboitizPower and partner Vivant Corp. are currently testing and commissioning its 2x170-MW coal-fired power plant in Toledo City, Cebu.

Meanwhile, GN Power Dinginin Ltd. Co. (GNPD) will start operating the first unit of its 2x668-MW Dinginin supercritical coal-fired power plant in Mariveles, Bataan within the year.

GNPD, is a partnership composed of AboitizPower’s Therma Power Inc. (TPI), AC Energy Holdings Inc. of the Ayala group, and Power Partners Ltd. Co.

Meanwhile, AboitizPower expects continued growth from its power distribution business.

“The company expects its existing distribution utilities to continue to realize modest growth. It continuously seeks efficiency and improvements in its distribution utilities’ operations in order to maintain healthy margins,” it said.

AboitizPower also owns distribution utilities that operate in high-growth areas in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, including the second and third largest private utilities in the country.

The company reported a six percent rise in net earnings to P21.7 billion last year on the back of higher contribution from new generating capacities namely Pagbilao Energy Corp. (PEC) and Hedcor Bukidnon Inc.

PEC, the joint venture between TPEC Holdings Corp. and Therma Power Inc., which are wholly-owned subsidiaries of TeaM Energy Corp. and AboitizPower, started operating the 420-megawatt (MW) coal-fired power plant in Pagbilao, Quezon early last year.

Hedcor Bukidnon’s 68.8 megawatt hydro plant in Manolo Fortich also commenced operations.