This grid upgrade enables the full dispatch of wind power from the island’s largest renewable energy facility.
The Department of Energy (DOE), together with key power sector stakeholders, have successfully facilitated the installation of three Current Transformers (CT) at Bay 1 of the Calangatan Switching Station, which is a transmission substation, in Oriental Mindoro.
The installation and commissioning were carried out in collaboration with the National Transmission Corporation (TransCo), the National Power Corporation (NAPOCOR), PHESI, Ormin Power Inc., and the Oriental Mindoro Electric Cooperative (ORMECO).
According to the DOE, this upgrade addressed a key limitation at the Calangatan Switching Station, which had previously restricted the amount of electricity that could be delivered to the Mindoro grid.
The said problem was identified through the continuous monitoring and site visits conducted by the department in Mindoro, where renewable energy generation was observed to be curtailed during periods of strong wind due to equipment limitations at the switching station.
This constraint, it noted, affected the dispatch of the 16.530 MW Wind Energy Power Facility (WEPF) operated by PHESI. There, a portion of available wind generation could not be fully delivered to the grid despite favorable wind conditions.
Following the successful replacement, testing and commissioning of the upgraded current transformer, the DOE disclosed that the system can now accommodate the full dispatch of approximately 16 MW of wind power from the PHESI facility—significantly improving the utilization of renewable energy in the Mindoro grid.
Energy Secretary Sharon Garin underscored, “Resolving grid constraints and improving system readiness are essential steps in enabling renewable energy projects to operate efficiently and contribute more meaningfully to the country’s energy supply.”
She added that the successful commissioning of the Calangatan facility demonstrates how open communication and strong collaboration among government agencies, transmission operators, electric cooperatives, and private sector partners benefits consumers and support the country’s clean energy goals.
In addition, PHESI also operates a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) that helps manage short-term fluctuations in wind generation and support stable power delivery to the grid.
With the commissioning of the upgraded current transformer, it is now able to deliver the full available wind generation to the Mindoro grid, with improvement expected to bring several benefits to electricity consumers in the province of Oriental Mindoro.
Among these are the reduction of unnecessary curtailment of renewable generation and the more reliable electricity supply for consumers served by ORMECO.
There is also reduced reliance on higher-cost conventional generation, particularly during periods of strong wind availability.
The DOE said that it continues to work closely with abovementioned firms and other stakeholders to address operational challenges in the Mindoro grid, as well as support the integration of renewable energy in island power systems and further advance the country’s transition toward sustainable energy sources.