AboitizPower says economies of scale benefit baseload construction, energy security
In AmCham’s 7th Annual Energy Forum, AboitizPower Thermal Group chief Engineering & Projects officer Don Paulino (2nd from left) cites the continued importance of the non-renewable energy sector in the Philippines in providing energy security amidst a transition to more variable renewable energy.
Planning the Philippines’ long-term baseload electricity requirements and capitalizing on economies of scale eases some pressures on costs and energy security, said Aboitiz Power Corporation (AboitizPower), one of the largest power producers in the country.
AboitizPower Thermal Group chief Engineering and Projects officer Don Paulino explained that power producers leverage planning and economies of scale to gain efficiencies, maximize value and supply chains, and drive down the costs of building baseload for either coal or nuclear power plants. Paulino added that Aboitiz Power is aiming for 50% renewable in their portfolio, but that they want a stable, affordable and sustainable baseload that can support intermittency in renewables.
According to the Philippine Energy Plan 2023-2050, peak electricity demand will grow by 5.19% and nationwide electricity sales will expand by 5.49% every year until 2050.
The Philippine Department of Energy put out a strategic framework that targets to increase the share of renewable energy to more than 50% in the power generation mix by 2050; increase port infrastructures to support the development of offshore wind projects; and integrate 1,200 megawatts of nuclear capacity by 2032 and further to 4,800 megawatts by 2050.
Recently, liquified natural gas is also being considered as a flexible fuel that will address the intermittency of variable renewable energy sources and support grid stability.
AboitizPower is one of the largest power producers in the Philippines, with a balanced portfolio of assets located across the country. It is a major producer of renewable energy, with several hydroelectric, geothermal, and solar power generation facilities. It also has thermal power plants in its generation portfolio to support the country’s baseload and peak energy demands.
The company has over 1,000 megawatts of disclosed energy projects in solar, hydro, geothermal, wind, and energy storage systems enroute to expanding its renewable energy portfolio to at least 4,600 megawatts.
Source: Malaya Business Insight
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