TOTAL installed on-grid power capacity of the country grew 7 percent at end-2019 to 25,531 megawatts (MW) against 2018’s 23,815 MW, data released by the Department of Energy showed.
Coal still dominates the power mix at 10,417 MW, up by almost 18 percent from the previous year’s 8,844 MW. Its overall share likewise went up to 40.8 percent from 37.1 percent year-on-year.
The three biggest coal plants are the 1,294 MW Sual in Pangasinan of TeaM Sual Corp.; the 1,184 MW Pagbilao in Quezon of TeaM Pagbilao Corp. and the 690 MW Mariveles Coal in Bataan of GN Power Mariveles Coal Plant Ltd. Co.
Installed capacity from oil-based power plants followed with a total of 4,262 MW, a 0.6 percent drop from 4,292 MW. Its overall share in the power mix went down to 16.7 percent from 18 percent.
Oil- based plants with the highest installed capacity are the 650 MW Malaya thermal power plant in Rizal province operated by SOOSAN ENS Co. Ltd. Philippines; the 648 MW Limay combined cycle gas turbine in Bataan of Panasia Energy Holding Inc. and the 227.5 MW Bauang diesel fired plant in La Union.
Closely trailing in third place are hydroelectric power plants with 3,760 MW, a 1.6 percent increase from the previous year’s 3,701 MW. Hydroelectric power’s overall share fell 14.7 percent from 15.5 percent.
Hydro plants currently with the largest installed capacities are the 739.2 MW Kalayaan dam type hydro power plant in Laguna of CBK Power Co.; the 727.9 MW Agus hydro complex of the National Power Corp.; and the 435 MW San Roque in Pangasinan of San Roque Power Corp.
Contribution of natural gas power plants followed with 3,453 MW total installed capacity, unchanged from 2018. Its overall share also declined to 13.5 percent from 14.5 percent.
Contribution of geothermal power plants declined 0.8 percent to 1,928 MW from 1,944 MW. Their share also went down to 7.5 percent from 8.2 percent.
Solar power plants recorded additional capacity to 921 MW from 2018’s 896 MW, or up 2.7 percent. Overall share fell slightly to 3.6 percent from 3.8 percent.
Capacity contribution of biomass power plants posted its best growth of 40 percent to 363 MW from the previous 258 MW. Biomass power’s share to the power mix went up to 1.4 percent from 1 percent.
Wind power capacity was stagnant at 427 MW with its share down to 1.6 percent from 1.8 percent.
