NGCP upgrading Negros–Panay interconnection

MANILA, Philippines — The National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) will upgrade the capacity of the Negros-Panay interconnection to accommodate 300 megawatts (MW) by the first quarter of 2018, addressing issues on excess supply in Negros province.

The project will also provide a more reliable connection between two of the major Visayas islands, it said.

The Negros-Panay submarine cable forms part of Stage 1 of the company’s Cebu-Negros-Panay (CNP) 230-kilovolt (kV) backbone project, designed to boost energy stability in the region.

“With the influx of power sources in Negros, CNP Stage 1 will maximize the power generated by variable renewable energy plants in the province,” NGCP said.

NGCP is referring to the sudden increase of the installation target for renewable energy facilities from 50 MW to 500 MW for solar and from 200 MW to 400 MW for wind in 2014.

 “NGCP’s mandate is to build connections to any energy source which wants to sell power through the country’s power backbone. It is imperative that transmission projects are synchronized with generation projects, so we can ensure that any power that may be generated will be dispatched through the grid,” the company said.

Aside from the submarine cable, other segments of CNP Stage 1 include the double circuit Bacolod-E.B. Magalona overhead transmission line, and the expansion of the Bacolod and Barotac Viejo Substations and the E.B. Magalona Cable Terminal Station.

After completing the first phase, NGCP will be able to provide an additional transmission capacity of 210 MW between Negros and Panay Islands and improve voltage levels of major substations in Negros Island.

“NGCP’s goals are always centered on increasing the grid’s reliability and security. With these improvements to the Visayas grid, we are taking another big step towards ensuring the stability of energy supply for our customers,” the company said.

Applications for the implementation of Stages 2 and 3 of the CNP project were filed with the ERC last 2016, with Stage 3 approved last Sept. 4.

CNP Phase 2 is the Magdugo-Cebu transmission line while Phase 3 is the Cebu-Negros submarine cable and transmission line.