First Gen closer to building RE projects near dams
The Lopez Group’s First Gen Corp. takes another step closer to put up solar and wind farms as well as a battery energy storage system (BESS) around its hydroelectric power plant complex in Nueva Ecija, having identified potential areas for these projects.The development of such facilities will help expand First Gen’s renewable energy portfolio to 9 gigawatts by 2030, company vice president Ricky Carandang told reporters.
The listed firm did not provide additional information about the potential power projects, including cost, timeline, capacity and specific location of these facilities.
But it has filed the corresponding applications with the Department of Energy to secure contracts for building wind projects. Studies are ongoing to confirm the viability in the locations of both ground-mounted and floating solar farms and BESS projects.
According to Carandang, the projects won’t have an adverse impact on the environment but will instead complement operations of First Gen’s hydro plants in the area.
Floating solar, for instance, can help preserve the water resource in the dam by slowing down the process of evaporation.“Sites under consideration in Pantabangan for wind projects satisfy several criteria, like acceptable wind speeds and proximity to transmission line substations; while locations under consideration for solar farms meet their own peculiar criteria, like high irradiance and a flat terrain, aside from proximity to transmission line substations,” he added.
Upon securing regulatory approvals, First Gen said building the facility, which can generate about 100 to 120 megawatts, will take about 36 months. INQ
