Study: Hydropower plant sites in Davao can generate 4,5mw

Sunstar Davao
By Reuel John F. Lumawag

Friday, February 21, 2014

SIX identified hydropower plant sites in the Davao Eegion have the combined capacity of 4.472 megawatts (MW) based on the study conducted by the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), in partnership with the Department of Energy (DOE) and the US Agency for International Development (USaid)-funded Climate Change and Clean Energy (CEnergy) Project.

The study, which also delved on the assessment and inventory of renewable energy sources in Mindanao, identified two locations in Davao Oriental and four in Davao del Sur as potential source of hydropower.

Identified sites in Davao Oriental are all located in Governor Generoso town. These are Mangkangay River in barangay Tandang Sora and Dumago-ok River in barangay Sergio Osmena.

Mangkangay River has a potential capacity of 300 kilowatts (kW) while Dumago-ok River can generate 3,000 kW. These areas are also eyed for mini-hydropower plants.

Identified sites in Davao del Sur are Miral Reservoir site and Kapatagan in Bansalan and Alop falls and Kidadan falls in Sta. Maria.

Mini-hydropower plants are being eyed for Miral and Kapatagan while micro-hydropower plants for Alop falls and Kidadan falls.

Miral Reservoir site has a potential power capacity of 300 kW, Kapatagan has 800 kW, Alop falls has 12 kW, and Kidadan falls has 60 kW.

"It may be small in terms of (power generation) compared to the Angus-Pulangi hydropower plant. But in its operational setup, our concept for these hydropower plants will be embedded capacities of the electric cooperatives where these plants are located," Romeo Montenegro, director of investment promotions and public affairs of the MinDA, said in a press conference on Renewable Energy Potentials in Mindanao on Tuesday at the Waterfront Insular Hotel Davao.

He said each electric cooperative have different requirements some can go as much as 200 MW while others to as small as 5 MW, since these hydropower plants will be embedded, these plants will be viable for the cooperatives.  source