Philippines DOE moves to stabilize Visayas and Mindanao power grids

The Philippine Department of Energy (DOE) is implementing measures to stabilize the Visayas and Mindanao power grids following recurring reliability issues and multiple grid alerts. To address capacity shortages, several generating units are scheduled to return to service throughout September and early October.

In the Visayas, the Cebu Energy Development Corporation Unit 1 resumed operations on September 5. Therma Visayas Unit 1 is expected to return by September 15, followed by Panay Energy Development Corporation Unit 3 by October 3. For the Mindanao grid, Therma South Inc. Unit 2 is slated to return by September 8, with Unit 1 following on September 19, and GN Power Kauswagan Unit 2 expected by September 20.

To provide fast-response support and stabilize the system during supply fluctuations, the DOE is coordinating the deployment of 253 megawatts of battery energy storage systems (BESS) across Cebu, Panay, Leyte, and Negros. Additionally, the DOE has directed the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) to execute outstanding ancillary services contracts to ensure backup capacity is available.