Privately-owned National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) has asked the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) for provisional authority to implement its ancillary services procurement agreement (ASPA) with a power plant in Luzon and another in the Visayas.
In a joint application filed with the ERC, the power grid operator and Therma Luzon, Inc. (TLI) have sought approval for the 60 megawatts (MW) that NGCP will buy from the power plant’s units 1 and 2 in Pagbilao, Quezon province on a firm basis, and another 60 MW on a non-firm, or as needed, basis.
Separately, NGCP and Palm Concepcion Power Corp. (PCPC) are asking approval for an ASPA for 15 MW on a firm basis, and 15 MW on a non-firm basis. Both applications sought provisional authority ahead of the ERC’s final approval.
NGCP forges agreements to procure “ancillary services” — in this case power supply — to ensure reliability in the operation of the transmission system and consequently, in the reliability of the electricity supply in the Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao grids.
Ancillary services are necessary to support the transmission of capacity and energy from energy resources to electricity load centers, while maintaining the reliable operation of the transmission system.
NGCP said the ancillary services to be sourced from TLI and PCPC will be used as contingency reserve, or power that will be allocated to immediately answer any reduction in supply when the largest power generating unit online fails to deliver. — Victor V. Saulon