Philippine consortium to invest $18m in microgrids in Palawan

These can provide power to more than 30,000 people.

Maharlika Consortium through its special purpose vehicle Archipelago Renewables Corporation will be investing $18m to develop microgrids in Palawan that can provide power to over 30,000 people in the province.

The consortium, composed of WEnergy Global, Maharlika Clean Power Holdings, and Clean Grid Partners signed a Qualified Third Party Service Contract after it bagged the bidding of the Palawan Electric Cooperative to support its total rural electrification in the province.

In a statement, the companies said they can provide power to 7,100 households and 300 small local businesses via 16 microgrids across over 14 towns in 7 municipalities within the service area of PALECO.

They will replicate WEnergy’s flagship microgrids in varying sizes, which are already used in providing power to consumers in the town of Cabayugan.

The investment will be used to build a distributing network which includes around 175 kilometres of primary and secondary power lines electrified by 3,800 kilowatts (kW) peak of solar, 2,000kW of diesel generators, and 4,200kW-hours of batteries.

“The Maharlika Consortium’s investment and operations will provide a catalyst to greater business and economic activity in our beloved home province,” Palawan Governor Dennis Socrates said.

“Beyond an increase in tourism investments and arrivals, the electricity infrastructure will spur the creation of more enterprises to improve the standard of living of Palaweños and make Palawan a true model for inclusive, sustainable development” he added.