Oro Utility looks to distributed generation of renewable energy...(Philippines)

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Oro Utility looks to distributed generation of renewable energy to cope with imminent power crisis

http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/viewArticle.asp?articleID=16298

The Philippines third largest private electric utility is looking to “distributed generation” of renewable energy sources to ensure a steady power supply for its franchise area in the face of an imminent power crisis in Mindanao.

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Sumaoy, chairman of Cepalco’s Power Supply Bidding Task Force (PSBTF), disclosed that among the projects the utility is now considering are a bio-mass co-generation facility at Maramag, Bukidnon; two (2) run-of-river mini-hydro power plants at the Kabulig River in Claveria, Misamis Oriental and the Culaman River in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon; and rooftop photovoltaic systems in urban Cagayan de Oro.

“Together, these projects could very quickly deliver between 15-30 MW to our franchise area within the next three years,” Sumaoy said. “However, we still have to address operational and legal issues like how to wheel in power generated outside our franchise area using existing transmission/distribution infrastructure, and right-of-way and use for rooftop photovoltaic systems.”

Cepalco is a pioneer in “distributed generation”, as a part-owner of the 18.9MW bunker fuel power plant of Mindanao Energy Systems, Inc. (Minergy) in Barangay Tablon, this city, in the early 1990s. Minergy recently offered a bidding tender to interested investors to finance another 20MW diesel plant but withdrew it following the continued rise in world crude prices. Minergy officials say they will revise their terms of reference (TOR) to a 20-30MW mini-hydro instead.

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