ERC clears G8-funded hydropower facility

Manila Times.net

THE Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has given the go signal to the Ambangal mini-hydro plant, a G8-funded power facility whose electricity sales will be used for the conservation of the Ifugao Rice Terraces.

The regulator recently awarded a certificate of compliance (COC) to the Ambangal mini-hydropower plant (AMHPP), allowing the facility to commence commercial operations.
Located in Kiangan, Ifugao, AMHPP is a 200-kilowatts run-of-river power plant under the management of the provincial government.

The AMHPP was funded by a grant on a donation basis from E8, an international organization of leading companies of G8 countries spearheaded by Japan’s Tokyo Electric Power Co. (Tepco), which operates the damaged nuclear power plant in Fukushima.

The income from the power sales of AMHPP is intended to fund the conservation of the Ifugao Rice Terraces, a Unesco World Heritage.

Aside from the AMHPP, the ERC also gave operating licenses to Bataan 2020 Inc. (B2020), and Hacienda Bio-Energy Corp. (HBC).

B2020 runs a 12.5-megawatt biomass power plant and a diesel engine generating set with an installed capacity of 550 kilowatts located in Samal, Bataan.

B2020 was already issued a COC in June 2009 as a self-generation facility but sought a new certificate due to its change of status as an independent power producer.

This will enable the company to sell excess power being produced by its rice husk-fueled biomass power plant either to distribution utilities or the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market.

HBC’s application is for the issuance of individual COCs of its seven renewable energy generating sets, which use methane gas derived from animal waste as fuel and has an aggregate installed capacity of 1,100 kilowatts.

The generating sets are located in General Santos City, South Cotabato, Davao del Norte, Davao City and Bukidnon.

HBC engages in the treatment of waste to capture its biogas contents for use as fuel for generators. The process of producing electricity as a result of the technology is termed as “Waste To Energy” (WTE) technology.

HBC established the WTE power plant system on a build-operate-transfer scheme for seven years from the commissioning date of the project.

Euan Paulo C. Añonuevo