Manila Bulletin
by Myrna Velasco
May 28, 2014
Innovation is definitely a core pathway for power utility giant Manila Electric Company (Meralco) as it is now pursuing a ‘micro-grid pilot project’ in Talim Island in Rizal province.
In a briefing with reporters, Meralco senior executive vice president and networks head Ricardo V. Buencamino noted that the micro-grid project (also referred to as ‘distributed generation’) involved the deployment of utility-scale solar power facility with storage system.
“It is a completely solar with storage for 1.0 megawatt,” he said, emphasizing that the pilot endeavor will serve as the company’s ‘proof-of-concept’ if it can be adopted as solution to other segments of its end-users, such as industries.
Buencamino emphasized that with the installation of storage system in their micro-grid venture, drawing power from the grid could just then serve as a back-up. The micro-grid pilot, he specified, will be connected to the utility firm’s Dolores substation.
Compared to the typical grid-connected power plants, distribution generation facilities are being built very close to the end-user, hence, reducing probable system losses and could also pare cost for what could have been longer power lines.
Buencamino admitted though that storage system is still very expensive, since even the more mature power markets are still at “experimental phases” when it comes to commercial phase applications of the technology.
In fact, in some power markets in Europe, the use of storage system for renewable energy (RE) technologies are still being subsidized just so they can first coax acceptability and establish feasibility of the option.
The Meralco executive similarly noted that they are in the process of tapping a partner for the project. Their first step to it though is study the system, including the storage component via synergies with American firm Tesla Motors which is also engaged in storage technologies as a support to its plan of massive-scale deployment of electric vehicles.
“We don’t have any partner yet…we are still looking for a partner,” he stressed. He averred though that their initial learning from Tesla could be useful in their search for a co-venturer.
Another facet they have been staunchly engaging themselves on is helping set the regulatory framework that could advance the rollout of such innovations in the restructured power industry.
Meralco President Oscar S. Reyes further intimated that their company “always looks for new developments in the electric power industry…primarily on technology and innovations.” source
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