149 power projects tagged as priority projects
The government is accelerating the regulatory processing of more than 100 projects with cumulative investments pegged at about P2.4 trillion, as it hopes to unlock 19 gigawatts (GW) of additional power capacity.
The Department of Energy said 149 power generation and transmission projects had received certificates of energy projects of national significance (CEPNS) from May to December of last year.
Breaking down, clean energy projects overwhelmed the list, totaling 91 with 17.6 GW of potential capacity. Four conventional power plants with 1.5 GW also gained CEPNS status, along with 29 transmission projects, 24 microgrid systems projects and one exploration project.
One of the biggest projects in the list includes the P200-billion Terra Solar project of SP New Energy Corp., the renewable energy vehicle of Pangilinan-led Meralco PowerGen.
The 1-GW San Miguel Bay Offshore Wind Power Project of Danish firm Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, which has estimated investments of $3 billion, also bagged the certificate.
Also included is the Pakil Pumped-Storage Hydroelectric Power Project of Ahunan Power, Inc., which has an indicative capacity of 1,400 megawatts.
With the CEPNS, these developers can skip bureaucratic red tape as they will be prioritized in the processing of permits. They can also apply for the necessary permits from multiple agencies simultaneously.
“The timely development of critical energy infrastructure is essential to securing our nation’s energy future. By facilitating investments in power generation and transmission in an efficient and timely manner, we are not only strengthening our energy security but also accelerating our transition to a cleaner, more resilient energy system,” Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla said.
The cancellation of idle renewable projects, Lotilla said, should attract more serious clean energy producers.
