Aboitiz power unit seeks connection to Luzon grid

Aboitiz-led Aseagas Corp. asked regulators to allow it to develop and own a dedicated point-to-point limited transmission line to connect the 8.8-megawatt (MW) Aseagas Lian biomass power plant to the Luzon grid.

The point-to-point line that will hook up the power plant to the 69-kV Calaca-Nasugbu transmission line of National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) would cost about P12.76 million, the company said in its application with the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC).

Aseagas is constructing an 8.8-MW biomass power plant in Lian, Batangas, which is expected to start operations this month.

The company has secured the Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Certificate of Confirmation of Commerciality under the Feed-in Tariff or FIT system from the Department of Energy (DOE) for the project plant.

Aseagas is constructing the biomass plant in line with government’s drive to increase private investment in alternative energy projects following Republic Act No. 9513 or the Renewable Energy Act.

“To enable Aseagas to comply, at the shortest time possible, with the requirements and the installation target for biomass energy as set by the DOE, urgency exists as to the project plant’s commissioning and testing. The grant of a provisional authority will greatly aid Aseagas in contributing to the biomass supply availability,” the company said.

Aseagas said there was a need for it to connect to the Luzon grid through the point-to-point project because it needed to immediately test, commission and dispatch the electricity after completion of the plant.