14-MW hydro plant starts supplying Luzon

Hedcor Inc., a subsidiary of AboitizPower Corp., has started commercial operations of the 14-megawatt (MW) Sabangan hydroelectric power plant, its first venture in Mt. Province.

Inaugurated last May 6, the plant is now set to deliver 55 gigawatt-hours of energy to the Luzon grid, which is experiencing tight power supply.

Construction of the plant started in 2013 and was finished on time this year, AboitizPower said in a project update.

Using a modern run-of-river system, the Sabangan hydro project harnesses the natural force of the Chico River by diverting part of the water into the system. The water then exits the powerhouse and goes back to the river.

“Hedcor’s Sabangan hydro plant is a fulfillment of AboitizPower’s continual promise to bring a better future to the country and to our host communities. Sabangan hydro is hoped to energize communities connected to the Luzon grid,” AboitizPower president and COO Antonio R. Moraza said.

The Sabangan hydro is the 22nd run-of-river hydro plant of Hedcor.

The new power plant increases the total capacity of AboitizPower’s entire portfolio to a total of 185 MW. Hedcor also owns and operates hydro plants in Benguet, Davao City, Davao del Sur and Ilocos Sur.

AboitizPower continues to expand its clean energy portfolio as its looks for more potential areas across the country, mainly through geothermal, hydro and solar power sources.

In April, Hedcor also had a groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the P12.5-billion, 68.8-MW Manolo Fortich run-of-river hydro plant in Bukidnon. This is also the first hydro plant venture of Hedcor in Bukidnon province.

Last year, AboitizPower partnered with US-based solar power developer SunEdison Inc. to explore, develop, construct and operate up to 300 MW of utility-scale solar photovoltaic power generation projects in the Philippines over the next three years.

SN Aboitiz Power (SNAP), a joint venture of AboitizPower with SN Power of Norway, is also expanding its portfolio in the northern region of Luzon.

Early last year, the Department of Energy (DOE) granted SNAP a renewable energy service contract (RESC) to develop an integrated hydropower complex in Ifugao province. The planned 350-MW hydroelectric power facility marks the company’s first major project under its greenfield development program.

Moreover, increasing the power supply of the country from geothermal sources remains one of AboitizPower’s goals in 2015 through its exploration of potential steam wells in Negron Cuadrado and Mt. Apo.

AboitizPower has 915 MW of renewable energy, representing 40 percent of its total attributable net sellable capacity, in its portfolio. It also operates baseload and peaking plants across the country through its coal- and oil-fired power plants.

The company aims to increase further its energy capacity by 2,000 MW over the next five years.