BY GEROME DALIPE IV
ILOILO City – With the energization of the 230 kilovolts (kV) Cebu-Negros-Panay (CNP) backbone project 3, Western Visayas is prioritizing the Competitive Renewable Energy Zone (CREZ) in anticipation of the projected increase of peak demand and the entry of new power plants.
The completion of the CNP3 means available transmission capacity for the generation of 400 megawatts (MW) for Panay Island and 500 MW for Negros, according to the Regional Development Council (RDC).
Citing data from the Transmission Development Plan (TSD) for 2020 to 2040 of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), the council said the renewable energy zone supports the vision to attain sustainable, stable, secure, sufficient, and accessible energy for the region and the country.
The renewable energy zone potentials for Panay and Negros are 2, 696MW for solar and 2, 628MW for wind.
“Grid interconnections will improve the efficiency and quality of power in the distribution lines while significantly reducing system losses and the overall cost of electricity to local consumers,” the council reported in its Regional Development Plan for 2023 – 2028.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. led the ceremonial energization of the 230 kV CNP backbone project stage 3 in Barangay Mansilingan, Bacolod City on Monday.
He urged energy stakeholders and private generators to invest in the Negros and Panay energy infrastructure to meet the region’s long term-term power demands as well as boost development.
The P67.9-billion CNP 230-kV Backbone Project, composed of CNP1, CNP2, CNP3 and Negros-Panay Interconnection Project Line 2 (NPIP L2), aims to strengthen the grid and improve the reliability of power transmission in the islands of Cebu, Negros and Panay.
It involved the construction of a high-voltage transmission line and associated substations to connect the islands of Cebu, Negros, and Panay.
The CPN project will also increase transfer capacity among Cebu, Negros, and Panay islands and the dispatch of excess capacities from Mindanao to meet the demand in the Visayas grid.
The council said the completion and modernization of transmission lines will be prioritized in anticipation of the projected increase of peak demand of 953.3MW by 2029 as well as the entry of new power plants and the increase in power exchange between Panay, Negros, and Cebu.
“This entails an additional 230kV submarine cable between Negros and Panay to allow full dispatch of the power plants in Panay and power exchanges between the islands,” the council stressed.
The transmission corridor from Barotac Viejo substation in Iloilo to the Bacolod substation in Negros will also be developed and upgraded to include a submarine cable system and overhead transmission lines, the council said.
These proposed transmission lines include the Barotac Viejo-Unidos 230kV transmission line, which aims to accommodate the incoming power plant from northern Panay; the Mandurriao 138kB substation that will involve the construction of 52-kilometer Barotac Viejo-Manduriao overhead transmission lines and the new substation along Sta. Barbara-PEDC 138kV transmission line; the Panay-Guimaras 138kV interconnection, which will ensure transmission power towards Panay; and the new 138kV circuit from Panitan and Nabas in Aklan, which will cater to the entire power requirements of the Nabas substation, including Boracay Island.
Major substations in Barotac Viejo, Bacolod, Panitan, Nabas, Zaldivar in Aklan, and Iloilo will be expanded and upgraded to accommodate additional generation capacity and ensure the reliability and flexibility of substations.
“Upgrading of substations will involve replacing, installing, and adding transformers with higher capacities to cater to load growths. New substations will be installed as alternative connection points to power households and industries,” the council said./PN
