1 month ago
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LINGAYEN, Pangasinan — The San Roque Hydropower Inc. (SRHI), a subsidiary of San Miguel Global Power Holdings Inc., has unveiled its plans to build three renewable energy projects in Pangasinan aimed at bolstering the national energy supply and supporting the country's renewable energy goals.
In his presentation last Monday at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) here, Noel Guillan, SRHI electromechanical project lead, said the projects are the San Roque Lower East Pump-Storage Project (800 MW), San Roque West Pump-Storage Project (800 MW), and San Roque Optimization Project (400 MW).
Guillian presented the proposed project to seek from the SP an "interposing no objection" resolution for the project.
Vice Gov. Mark Ronald Lambino said that the SP will act on SRHI's request after it submits to the SP its hydropower service contract with the Department of Energy.
Guillian said the lower east project will be built in an area east of the San Roque Dam reservoir and will straddle the villages of San Felipe East in San Nicolas, Pangasinan and Dalupirip in Itogon, Benguet. The west pump-storage project will be built west of the reservoir, in the villages of San Roque in San Manuel, Pangasinan and Ampucao in Itogon, Benguet.
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The optimization project, on the other hand, will be constructed below the National Irrigation Administration's reregulating pond and will straddle the villages of Narra in San Manuel town, and San Felipe West and San Felipe East in San Nicolas town.
Guillian said the pump-storage technology proposed for the lower east and west projects allows for energy storage and grid stability by recycling water through upper and lower reservoirs.
The optimization project, meanwhile, seeks to maximize the use of the existing San Roque reservoir to generate additional power even during periods of low water levels.
At present, the dam's hydroelectric power plant produces 345 megawatts (MW). It primarily operates as a peaking plant, providing additional power during high demand periods.
Guillian said that at present, the San Roque power plant's capacity factor is only at about 20 percent and about 800-gigawatt-hour in a year.
With the optimization project, Guilian said, power generation will be doubled, and the plant capacity factor will increase to about 40 percent.
During his presentation, Guillan also emphasized the importance of these projects in addressing the Philippines' growing energy demand, which, he said, has been increasing at an annual rate of 4.2 percent for Luzon, equivalent to about 450 MW yearly.
He said that this demand, coupled with recurring power outages during peak summer months, underscores the need for additional renewable energy sources.
In addition to addressing energy demands, Guillian said the projects promise significant socioeconomic benefits, such as revenue contributions to the government, including a one percent share of gross electricity sales, allocated to national and local governments.
He said there will also be financial benefits to host communities, including funds for electrification, livelihood programs, and environmental management.
Guillian also said the projects will introduce additional infrastructure, such as access roads and transmission lines, particularly benefiting communities in Pangasinan and Benguet.
