Strategic Power Development Corp., a wholly- owned subsidiary of SMC Global Power Holdings Corp., plans to build a P26.3-billion, 300-megawatt pumped-storage hydropower project in Aklan province, documents filed with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources show.
SPDC which also operates the San Roque hydro plant in San Miguel, Pangasinan, disclosed the plans to the DENR under its notice of public scoping report.
“With the development and operation of the project, it is projected that 300-MW pumped storage hydro power facility will be able to cover a portion of the renewable energy requirement to the Visayas Grid particularly during peak hours,” SPDC said.
“This will also contribute to the stabilization of the Visayas grid by providing ancillary services and peaking power,” it said.
The project in Barangay Nabaoy, Malay is being developed under Hydropower Service Contract (No. 2014-01-288) given to SPDC on Feb. 5, 2014.
SPDC said if the project fails to push through, the impact would be the continued shortage in power supply to the Visayas Grid and loss of tax revenues.
The proposed 300-MW Aklan pumped-storage hydro project is a greenfield project which involves the construction of two dams and covers 122.7 hectares of land.
Project construction is estimated at 4.5 years, including the main access tunnel, the underground powerhouse and the installation of the pumping/generation equipment.
Project commissioning is targeted by the third quarter of 2025 with operations seen to start by the second half of 2026.
SMCGP, the power arm of San Miguel Corp., announced over the weekend it would avoid building new coal power plants and focus on more renewables in its power portfolio.
“We’re executing on our plans to move away from building new coal facilities, despite new technologies that make them cleaner. It’s a company direction that is in line with all the major sustainability initiatives we have undertaken these past couple of years,” SMC president Ramon Ang said in a statement.
SMCGP is adding more renewables in its power portfolio using technologies to significantly cut carbon footprint while addressing the country’s need for reliable and affordable power.
“SMC has always maintained a diverse power portfolio utilizing renewables and traditional, but proven technologies. This is to ensure that as we transition to cleaner sources, we will not undermine our commitment to meet the growing demand for affordable and reliable energy,” Ang said.
The company dropped plans to put up three new clean coal power plants in Quezon and Cebu with a capacity of 1,500 MW in favor of new facilities that utilizes cleaner, renewable energy sources.
SMCGP also started its transition to cleaner energy with the construction of 31 battery energy storage system facilities all over the country.