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MANILA, Philippines — The Visayas grid may continue facing supply problems for the next 1 to 2 years as new power plants and transmission facilities catch up with rising demand, the Department of Energy said Monday, June 1.
Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said at a DOE press briefing that the agency is moving to secure temporary supply for the region after repeated yellow and red alerts in recent weeks exposed the grid's thin reserves.
"On the Visayas side, this will be a prolonged problem," Garin said at a press conference Monday, June 1.
Garin explained that synchronizing the completion of power plants and transmission is difficult. Some plants take three to five years to complete, leaving the region with a near-term supply gap even as projects are already in the pipeline.
"That is why we will bring in temporary energy supply so that for the next year or two, the Visayas will have reserves," she said in Filipino.
Energy Undersecretary Mario Marasigan said the Visayas was the DOE's main concern among the three grids. He said demand can reach more than 2,700 megawatts during peak hours, while supply can fall as low as 2,044 MW.
Marasigan said the Visayas grid had been placed under 17 yellow alerts and four red alerts between May 12 and June 1.
The recent strain has been driven by unavailable plants, including Therma Visayas Units 1 and 2, Panay Energy Development Corp. Unit 3 and Kepco-Salcon Power Corp. Unit 2, according to the DOE. Marasigan said Kepco Unit 2 was expected to return on Tuesday, June 2, while PEDC Unit 3 may return by July 3. Therma Visayas Units 1 and 2 are expected back only in late August.
Need for reserves
Garin said the Visayas has a high share of renewable energy, at around 45% compared with the national average of 25%, but still needs more steady sources of power.
"That is good news, but it also has to have more support from steady sources, because when it is raining there is no solar, and when there is no wind there is no wind power," Garin said.
"What the Visayas needs more of is what we call mid-merit and baseload energy," she added.
Marasigan said the DOE is looking at power barges, diesel power barges, modular gensets and battery energy storage systems to stabilize supply. He said the agency needs at least 150 MW to improve reserves in the Visayas and has written the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines on possible direct negotiation for ancillary services.
The Energy department's warning points to a supply problem that is no longer just a heat-season squeeze. For the Visayas, the immediate fix may be temporary capacity. The durable fix will depend on whether enough firm power, storage and transmission can arrive before the next round of alerts. — Camille Diola
