News

Pumped storage projects are integral to the country’s energy transition strategy and drivers of development in host communities, an official of the Department of Energy – Renewable Energy Management Bureau (DOE-REMB) said.  

“Bakit tayo nagkakaroon ng pumped storage? Ang Department of Energy, ang target papunta na tayo doon sa energy transition. Ibig sabihin noon, ‘yung dependency natin sa mga  fossil fuels, sa coal or oil-based power plants ay unti-unti na nating papalitan ng mga renewable energy resources,” said Ariel Fronda, Officer-in-Charge of the Hydropower & Ocean Energy Management Division under the DOE-REMB.   

Fronda was one of the signatories during the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the creation of a multipartite monitoring team (MMT) for the 600MW Wawa Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Power Project.  

“’Yung benepisyong matatanggap ninyo, malaki ang maitutulong sa inyo lalong lalo na sa pag-develop o progress ng inyong lugar o ng barangay. Sa experience ko—matagal na ako sa DOE—lahat ng napuntahan kong may power plants o energy projects, lahat iyan ay umasenso ang mga local government units,” he added.  

He said part of the benefits are granted through the implementation of Energy Regulations (ER) No. 1-94, which mandates generation companies and developers to set aside Php 0.01 per kilowatt-hour of its total electricity sales as financial benefit of the host province, city, or municipality of the energy project.  

The DOE official also underscored the role of Olympia Violago Water and Power Inc. (OVWPI), a Prime Infra subsidiary, as the project proponent and developer of the Wawa pumped storage project, for its support to the national government’s targets in terms of energy security.  

“Ang nakakatuwa ay open kayo sa ganiyang development. Kung ano ang target o plano ng national level hanggang sa local government ay sumusuporta kayo doon, at kami naman sa national, Department of Energy, ‘yan kasi ang aming mandato na magkaroon tayo ng affordable, accessible source of energy.  So again, maraming salamat sa opportunity at ako natutuwa na nagko-comply ang developer sa mga regulatory requirements.”  

Also present at the MOA signing held on July 31 in Antipolo City, were Rizal Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer (PENRO) Ramil Limpiada, Acting Municipal Mayor of San Mateo, Rizal, Mary Grace Diaz, Antipolo City Environment and Waste Management Office Officer-in-Charge Engr. Rommel Daquioag, and Prime Infra Regulatory Head for Hydropower Projects Miguel Marfil.  

The 600MW Wawa pumped storage project aims to support ancillary energy supply and energy storage requirements of the power grid. This facility will provide an energy storage capacity of 6,000 megawatt-hours (MWh) per day to the grid by enabling the continued dispatch of variable renewable energy as it stores excess capacity when there’s an oversupply, and dispatching the same when the supply goes back down. It is targeted to commence operations by 2030.   

The MMT will serve as a local, multi-stakeholder body that ensures the project’s environmental and social safeguards are upheld.