Biofuel, renewable energy projects to boost WV power supply
Several renewable and bioenergy projects are underway to augment power supply in Western Visayas, based on the data provided by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) 6.
Gil Altura, chief of NEDA 6 Project Development Investment Programming and Budgeting Division, said the region has been declared by the Department of Energy (DOE) as laboratory for bioenergy and renewable fuels.
In the next 10 years, Western Visayas is projected to be “the country’s front runner in biofuels and renewable energy mix.”
The NEDA 6 in its Regional Development Agenda (RDA) which will serve as one of the reference in the formulation of the Medium Term Regional Development Plan (MTRDP) has enumerated several completed and ongoing projects relative to the thrust.
Four hydropower projects are already completed include the 40-kilowatt (kw) Canauilan-Barasalon Micro in Janiauy, Iloilo; 32 kw Balea Micro Hydro in Calatrava, 32-kw Veragra-Magtuod Micro Hydro and the 21-kw Baclao Micro Hydro in Cauayan all in Negros Occidental.
These completed micro hydro projects were assisted by the Central Philippine University- Affiliated Non-conventional Energy Center/Japan International Cooperation Agency, Preferred Energy Inc., and Japan Fund Poverty Reduction.
A 15-kw project also by the said group is now on-going in Sebaste, Antique.
The eight-megawatt Villasiga Hydro in Bugasong and 2.1-MW Guiamon-San Ramon Hydro in Laua-an all in Antique which are being undertaken by the Sunwest Water and Electric Company are ongoing.
A second level scooping was already completed for the Jalaur-River Multi-Purpose Project proposed by the National Irrigation Administration which is expected to generate some 14-MW.
A memorandum of agreement for hydro power exploration was also inked between the Conal Holdings/Alto Power Management Corp. and the local government units of Kabankalan and Negros Occidental for the proposed 40-MW Bago River Power Plant.
Meantime, the 21-MW biomass plant of the First Farmers Holding Corp. Co-Gen Power Plant was already commissioned. In the meantime while waiting for the approval of the Energy Regulatory Commission on the supply agreement between the generator and the Central Negros Electric Cooperative the FFHC exports its power to Cebu.
Also operational is the 15-MW Passi Co-Gen Power Plant by the Central Azucarera de San Antonio.
Still on biomass, there is an ongoing site preparation for the 15-MW Cabalabaguan Biomass in Mina, Iloilo and 17-MW Biomass Plant embedded at the Capiz Electric Cooperative in Capiz by the proponent Green Power Panay Philippines Inc.
The Asea One Power Corp. has already acquired a site for its 12-MW Agbanawan Biomass Plant in Banga, Aklan while acquisition is still on-going for the 30-MW plant to be situated in Ajuy, Iloilo.
For wind power, the Trans-Asia Renewable Energy Corporation has an ongoing 54-MW San Lorenzo Wind Farm project in San Lorenzo, Guimaras.
The San Carlos Bioenergy, which is the country’s first sugarcane based ethanol by the Bronzeoak, is now operating in San Carlos, Negros Occidental while another bio-ethanol plant by the Roxol Bioenergy Corp. based in La Carlota also from the same province is expected to be operational soon.
The Energy Development Corporation also re-commissioned its 10-mw Northern Negros Geothermal Project in Bago City and Murcia while it also has an on-going 30-MW Northern Negros Steam Augmentation Project at the buffer zone of the Mt. Kanlaon Natural Park.*PNA
