DOE to closely monitor Visayas power situation, vows measures

CEBU CITY, Philippines — The Department of Energy (DOE) continues to keep a close watch on the power situation in the Visayas as the grid remains fragile despite recent positive developments.

Following the reactivation of Unit 3 of the Panay Energy Development Corp. (PEDC 3), the DOE said the Visayas grid had improved its reserve ratings, which had earlier raised the risk of rotating power interruptions.

READ: After 5 days of stability, Visayas power grid faces yellow alert anew

But it remains vulnerable to any unexpected factors, including unscheduled plant outages and surge in demand, as demonstrated last Monday, July 6, when it faced another yellow alert after five days of relative stability.

“That is why the Department of Energy continues to pursue measures that will bring more generating capacity into the grid, particularly from renewable energy resources,” said Energy Secretary Sharon Garin during Monday’s briefer.

Additionally, the agency vowed to continue supporting investments in transmission and other critical infrastructure that will strengthen the grid’s reliability.

READ: DOE summons 20 Visayas power generators over supply concerns

Plant outages

For months, the Visayas grid had been unable to generate at least 800 megawatts (MW) of power due to forced outages in some of the largest coal-fired plants in the country.

These include Therma Visayas Units 1 and 2, each with a capacity of 169 megawatts, which remained offline for scheduled maintenance.

They are expected to return to service by the end of August, according to Energy Undersecretary Mario Marasigan.

Kepco SPC Unit 1 in Cebu, which had been shut down after an observed hissing sound in its boiler tubes, has since been inspected, cleared of major issues, and reconnected to the grid.

“In the meantime, while we are continuously anticipating increases in demand due to economic growth in various areas, we continue to give special attention to the Visayas,” Marasigan said.

READ: DOE issues 203 show-cause orders to noncompliant power firms

Stability

To further strengthen grid stability, the DOE said it was coordinating with the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines and four proponents on immediate solutions for potential yellow and red alerts in the region.

These include plans for backup or reserve capacity in Cebu, Panay, and Negros, targeting 270 megawatts, with at least half expected to be installed soon.

The department is also eyeing Mohon as a host for additional capacity to improve both supply and system stability, noting that reliability — not just capacity — remains a concern given the area’s position at the end of the transmission line.

On battery energy storage, the DOE confirmed that a 30-megawatt facility in Mactan, Cebu, and a 40-megawatt facility in Tabango, Leyte, are already in place.

Two more battery storage projects have been identified: a 150-megawatt facility within the franchise area of CEBECO I or II, and a 50-megawatt facility in Negros, as part of efforts to distribute additional capacity across the islands.

“We are continuously looking at alternative and clean technologies that we may have to deploy for the Visayas region,” said Marasigan.

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