The hybrid power plant of the Sabang Renewable Energy Corporation (SREC) in Sitio Sabang, Barangay Cabayugan
(Photos courtesy of WEnergy Global)
The micro-grid solar power plant that will energize the tourism hub of Puerto Princesa and home to the Underground River, will be formally launched by the second week of September this year, according to the company proponent of the project.
The Sabang Renewable Energy Corporation (SREC) in Sitio Sabang, Barangay Cabayugan by WEnergy Global was tested Wednesday and they said all its systems are running well.
“Nag-testing lang kami. Na-synchronize lang naman ‘yong planta, which means that ‘yong battery and ‘yong solar and ‘yong generator ay tumatakbo na. Mate-testing na siya sa ibang mga bahay and sa hotel pero ang full operation niya ay sa September pa,” said Quintin Pastrana, vice president and treasurer of SRC, representing WEnergy Global.
WEnergy Global Pte. Ltd. on its Facebook page Wednesday stated that this testing was conducted by its whole team of experts and technicians along with its partners Gigawatt Power, Vivant Corporation and TEPCO-Power Grid, and the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP).
WEnergy is a global company with extensive experience in renewable energy projects and proponent of this micro-grid in Sabang.
According to Pastrana, the system started supplying to initial customers, namely few households and one hotel, the Daluyon Beach and Mountain Resort.
Daluyon, he said, is now connected.
A total of 650 households, which are mostly hotels, restaurants, and resorts, will benefit from the project when its full operation begins. However, Pastrana said he could not yet give an estimate of the total number of households that are already connected to the grid.
In an earlier article by Palawan News on November 2018, it noted that this project was designed to produce 1.4 megawatts of electricity from solar energy, combined with 1.2 megawatts from diesel generators aimed to power a 14-circuit kilometer distribution facility.
By utilizing 60 percent solar and 40 percent biodiesel, SERC targets to showcase this project as a model in sustainable renewable energy generation in the Philippines.
He said they also plan to open the area to the public, particularly to the tourists, to educate them about renewable energy and best practices worthy of being emulated.
SREC is going to sell power at a subsidized cost of P15 for commercial establishments and P12 per kilowatt-hour for residential.
Read the original story here.
(Published in Palawan Daily News, 23 August 2019)
