NGCP Pursuing P986-M Uprating Projects

Concessionaire National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) will be coughing up an

aggregate investment of P986 million for the continued uprating and expansion of its transmission facilities.

These will cover the P618-million capacity expansion of its Dasmarinas extra high voltage (EHV) substation;

P295-million Tayabas EHV substation expansion and the P73-million capital outlay for the replacement of old

power circuit breakers at its Labo substation in Camarines Norte and Gumaca, Quezon.

The Dasmarinas substation expansion, the NGCP has explained “will help maintain the provision of N-1

contingency during maximum dispatch for connected power customers.”

N-1 contingency entails less or no power interruption scenario when there is an upset in the transmission

system, because the load can be instantaneously wheeled to customers through a back-up network.

“The improvement involves the installation of additional capacity both in 500-kilovolt (kV) and 230-kV

substations in Dasmarinas, Cavite,” NGCP said, emphasizing that this can support maximum dispatch for the

Ilijan gas-fired and Pagbilao coal plants.

The project, which is targeted for completion first quarter next year, will particularly cover the installation

of 300-megavolt ampere additional capacity to its 230/115-kV power transformer, as well as the replacement of

two power circuit breakers.

The Tayabas substation expansion, on the other, will require the installation of additional 600-megavolt

amperes (MVA) 500/200 kV transformer and will also improve the 500-kV power circuit breakers as well as the

substation accessories control, protection and communication system. It is targeted for completion fourth

quarter this year.

“Installation of equipment will ensure efficient, stable and reliable delivery of electric power to the load

center,” the company said, stressing that this will also “help maintain the provision for N-1 contingency at

the Tayabas substation.”

Efforts on replacing antiquated power circuit breakers are aligned with NGCP’s goal of modernizing the

country’s power grid.

Apart from its Labo substation, NGCP noted that it is pursuing many of such power circuit breakers

modernization and replacement so the system can also keep pace with demand growth.

“As the power demand continues to grow, old power circuit breakers no longer have the technical capacity to

efficiently respond to system disturbances in the power network,” the company said, emphasizing that “outmoded

power circuit breakers are difficult to maintain due to diminishing supply of spare parts in the market.”

https://www.mb.com.ph/articles/366918/ngcp-pursuing-p986m-uprating-projects