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Emerging Power Inc. (EPI) announced in March that its subsidiary, Jobin-SQM Inc. (JSI), has connected an additional 72 megawatts (MW) of solar energy capacity to the Luzon grid, commencing energization. This augments JSI’s original 100-MW solar farm, which went online in 2019.
The expansion brings JSI’s total installed and operational solar power capacity to 172 MW, making it one of the country’s largest coming from a single solar power generation plant. The solar farm is situated in a contiguous area in Mt. Sta. Rita within the Subic Bay Freeport Zone, Zambales.
Megawatt Makeover
To optimize the generation capability of the Mt. Sta. Rita solar farm within the available land area, 580-watt solar photovoltaic panels were used. They are strategically arranged in a sprawling layout housing 14 medium voltage stations.
The expansion project also includes the installation of a compact, state-of-the-art substation, which features smart technologies supporting advanced communications and remote operations control functions, ensuring faster response times in the event of technical incidents.
A new transmission line connects the new substation, which services the 72-MW expansion, to the existing substation, which powers the original 100-MW solar plant. The combined capacity of 172 MW is then transmitted through a 7.7-kilometer transmission line to the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) substation of the National Grid Corporation.
Contributing to the Country
“With this additional solar capacity in operation, EPI has increased its contribution towards the augmentation of the country’s renewable energy supply,” the company said.
Under a Power Supply Agreement, EPI provides solar power capacity from the Mt. Sta. Rita Solar Power Plant to AboitizPower’s retail electricity companies Aboitiz Energy Solutions, Inc. and Adventenergy Inc., to support the retailers’ growing portfolio.
EPI is the renewable energy division of Nickel Asia Corp. (NAC), a diversified natural resources company with several active mining operations and renewable energy projects. Recently, NAC has said that it is relying on three promising nickel mining projects to drive company growth.
Source: Subic solar power project adds 72-MW capacity to Luzon grid