Meralco to open smart grid R&D lab

Manila Electric Co. is developing a “green” facility for smart grid innovation, research and development (R&D), and technical training called PowerTech.

The facility, to be powered by renewable energy sources such as solar and wind, is set to be fully operational in early 2017. It will also be using natural lighting and ventilation.

This will be a 2-story, green architecture structure which will be occupying a total floor area of 3,139 square meters in Meralco headquarters in Ortigas.

The innovation and R&D works at PowerTech will focus on the smart grid and its components. Power Tech will be an incubator for globally competent technical professionals who are capable of supporting advancements in the power and energy ecosystem.

PowerTech will feature different state-of-the art facilities such as the following: The Grid Adventure, Endeavor, Pathfinder and Resolution (Training Labs); the Grid Enterprise (Test Area), the Grid Discovery (Innovation Center) and the Grid Inspiration (Auditorium).

Meralco officials said engineers in PowerTech would go beyond theoretical learnings from audio visual presentations and will be doing more work with simulations made to bridge the gap between the existing and the evolving technologies.

Company VP and head of networks Ronnie L. Aperocho said one such environment was “The Grid Enterprise” section which allows participants to test emerging technologies under a simulated network before these are applied to the entire Meralco system.

Participants can also interact with industry experts and engineering luminaries in “The Grid Inspiration” section of PowerTech.

“In Meralco, we believe that a true center of excellence is ultimately defined by the interplay of best in class hardware, software and most important, highly competent and innovative professionals,” Meralco president and CEO Oscar Reyes said.