Expansion of mini grid eyed

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY. — Proponents of Sabang Renewable Energy Corp. (SREC), the country’s first mini-grid system combining solar panels, batteries and diesel engines located here, are eyeing the expansion of the project’s capacity.

The consortium composed of Vivant Energy Corp., Gigawatt Power Inc. and Energy Global will conduct further studies on the plan.

On November 7, the P450-million mini-grid system went online.

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The system has four diesel engines totalling 1.28 megawatts capacity and a 1.4-megawatt peak solar energy system and an electricity distribution system in Sitio Sabang, Barangay Cabayugan.

The project also involved the erection of poles and cables spanning 14 kilometers which will provide power to approximately 10 public buildings, 18 small businesses, 19 hotels and restaurants and 583 households.

“As with all projects, Vivant takes a forward-looking approach where we study community needs while allowing ourselves the adaptability to adjust these solutions to changes. Any increase, as has been done in our other Palawan investments, will be determined after we have more information,” said Shem Jose Garcia, Vivant assistant vice president for corporate communications.

The Department of Energy and the Energy Regulatory Commission permitted SREC to operate as a qualified third-party in the area, allowing them to not only generate power but distribute it as well as the current franchise holder in the area cannot energize the sitio for economic reasons.

“By combining the innovation of renewable energy and the efficiency of conventional power generation, SREC will save the environment from over 25,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide while providing stable and reliable energy to the community,” said Emil Andre Garcia, SRsEC chairman.

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