Luzon grid on alert anew

MANILA, Philippines — The Luzon grid was placed on red alert yesterday, the 10th for this year, due to thin power supply.

The National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) raised the red alert from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. yesterday.  It means there was severe power deficiency in the  grid.

A yellow alert was also raised from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. The alert means there were not enough reserves equivalent to the biggest online power plant of 647 megawatts to cover the largest running generating unit at the time, but does not necessarily lead to power outages.

The NGCP said available capacity was at 11,376 MW while peak demand was projected to reach 11,237 MW.

The Department of Energy (DOE) said the Luzon grid lost 1,057 MW from power plants that went on unplanned outage. 

The 300-MW Unit 2 of SEM-Calaca Power Corp. tripped due to a damaged cable while the 150-MW Unit 4 of SMC Consolidated Power Corp. in Limay went offline due to high furnace pressure.

Unit 1 of SMC Consolidated was on unplanned maintenance since June 2 due to boiler tube leak.

The DOE said the 345-MW Unit 1 of GNPower Mariveles Coal Plant. Co. was offline since June 2 due to air heater trouble and replacement of guide bearings and oil. Two plants of AP Renewables Inc. tripped amid power supply issues.

The 135-MW Unit 2 of South Luzon Thermal Energy Corp. has been on outage since May 25 due also due to boiler tube leak.

DOE data also showed that several hydropower plants are running on derated capacity due to low water level. Two coal-fired power plants were also derated.

The NGCP said yellow and red alerts could still be raised in the Luzon grid until September even though hydropower plants resume operations after the rainy season.