City eyes getting 5 MW power from biomass plant in Passi
To further address its power needs, the city government is planning to source out 5 megawatts (MW) of power produced from a biomass plant in one of the sugar centrals in the component city of Passi. The power is sold at P3 per kilowatt hour.
City Mayor Jerry Treñas yesterday met with Steven Chan, owner of the Central Azucarera de San Antonio and Engr. Rey Malleza, supervisor of the Visayas Field Office of the Department of Energy (DOE), to discuss details on the possible interconnection from the sugar central to the transmission line of the National Transmission Commission (Transco) and to power distributor Panay Electric Company Inc. (PECO).
The interconnection has to be affirmed by the energy department before power could be transmitted from the source to the end user.
Treñas said they would be gathering expert advises with regard to the use of renewable source of energy such as those coming from a biomass plant. Power produced from the biomass plant is renewable energy and is much cheaper. However, it is seasonal in nature since power is only available during the milling season.
The biomass plant is in its first year of operation and could produce power during the milling season. The power generated from the biomass plant comes from the sugar cane waste. The milling season starts on November. The biomass plant could provide the city additional power within a five-month period, said Treñas.
Treñas added, the sugar central will charge P3 per kilowatt hour. While, Transco will collect P1 every kilowatt hour as transmission charge. The price is much cheaper and could help reduce the price of power in the city, said Treñas.
Meanwhile, the modular generator sets provided by the National Power Corporation (Napocor) to the city will become operational tentatively either in October or November, 2008.
The city government is gearing for additional power with the entry of several call centers and in preparation for the coming holidays where power is on its peak especially during nighttime when malls and houses consume additional power. During holidays, malls and residences are dressed with holiday lights and trimmings, thus more electricity is utilized.