The capacity of renewable energy (RE) projects eligible to supply under the renewable portfolio standard (RPS) for both on-grid and off-grid areas as of end-September has hit 2,471.2 megawatts (MW), according to data from the Department of Energy.
The capacity can be tapped by distribution utilities and electric cooperatives to comply with the RPS which mandates them to allocate a portion of their supply from RE sources.
DOE’s data for September is higher by 100.76 MW or more than 4 percent from last May’s 2,370.44 MW.
At present, the highest available RPS eligible capacity is from solar power plants at 1,168.61 MW, the biggest project of which is the 132.5 MW Cadiz solar of Helios Solar Energy Corp. in Negros Occidental.
Eligible capacity from wind power projects totalled 409.9 MW, the biggest of which is the Burgos wind EDC Burgos Wind Power Corp. in Ilocos Norte while total capacity from hydro were at 409.35 MW with the largest contribution coming from the 104.55 MW Ambuklao hydro of SN Aboitiz Power in Benguet.
Total capacities from biomass power followed at 264.85 MW with the largest chunk coming from North Negros Biopower’s and South Negros Biopower’s biomass power plants in Negros Occidental with 22.37 MW each.
Capacities from geothermal resources had the lowest share at 218.5 MW with the biggest project represented by the 140 MW Bacon Manito geothermal power plant in Sorsogon.
As of end-2020, the combined installed capacity of RE power plants in the country composed of geothermal, hydro, biomass, solar and wind projects reached 7,653 megawatts equivalent to 29 percent of the mix.
Meanwhile, for the similar period, total power generation from RE sources hit 21,609 gigawatt hours equivalent to 21 percent. – Jed Macapagal
