NGCP: Luzon power reserves still in excess

Manila Standard Today
By Alena Mae S. Flores | Mar. 13, 2015 at 11:20pm

Luzon’s power reserves are expected to reach 1,981 megawatts on Sunday despite the first day of the 30-day maintenance shutdown of the Malampaya gas facility in northwest Palawan.

Data from grid operator National Grid Corporation of the Philippines said system load or demand would reach 6,418 MW on Sunday against the projected capacity of 8,388 MW. The demand is lower during weekends or holidays compared with weekdays or ordinary working days.

By Monday, the system capacity will increase to 8,999 MW although demand will be higher at 7,719 MW, which meant the reserves is lower on Monday at 1,280 MW.

The capacity from the combined cycle or natural gas plant will go down to 2,280 MW starting Sunday from 3,060 MW on Friday and Saturday prior to the Malampaya shutdown, according to data.

The Malampaya gas field provides power to three natural gas plants, namely Sta. Rita (100 MW), San Lorenzo (500 MW) and Ilijan (1,200 MW), all in Batangas.

The Sta. Rita and San Lorenzo power plants will shift to the higher priced liquid fuel, while only one unit of the Ilijan combined cycle natural gas plant will be running using diesel as fuel.

“Ilijan will run but only limited at 420 MW,” Energy director Mylene Capongcol said.

Coal plants are expected to contribute 3,754 MW on Sunday while hydro plants are expected to deliver 1,282 MW.

Geothermal plants with a capacity of 483 MW will supply the grid on Sunday while gas turbine/wind will deliver 55 MW. Diesel plants will provide 545 MW.

Capongcol said some power plants were still on forced outage on Sunday. She did not provide additional information.

Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla earlier said Luzon was entering a “critical period” starting March 15.

He said Luzon was facing a 200-megawatt power shortage in March on a worst-case scenario, although that could be remedied by the interruptible load program.

“The best case scenario is no brownout. Based on our projection, you have a deficit of 200 megawatts without ILP. With ILP, this will already be covered,” Petilla said. source