Philippines-based Prime Infra announced that its two pumped storage projects have been granted Certificates of Energy Project of National Significance (CEPNS), from the country’s Department of Energy (DOE).
The two projects that received national significance certification include the Pakil pumped storage power project in Laguna and the Wawa pumped storage power project in Rizal.
They are designed to address the energy demand by unlocking the power of renewable energy sources to provide reliable and sustainable electricity storage.
CEPNS are issued to energy projects that can impact the country’s energy sufficiency, security, stability, economic development, technological progress, and environmental protection.
The national significance status will help the energy projects with faster issuance of permits and approvals from different government agencies.
Prime Infra president and CEO Guillaume Lucci said: “We thank the Department of Energy for recognizing the importance of our pumped storage projects in the nationwide agenda to achieve energy security.
“These are critical projects, essential to enable the energy transition and to enhance grid security through flexible energy generation.
“Prime Infra remains committed to leveraging pioneering solutions that meet current energy demands and position the Philippines to effectively tackle the challenges of a dynamic energy landscape going through a critical transition.”
According to the DOE, an energy project is certified as nationally significant, if it has more than Php3.5bn ($59m) capital investment and contribution to the country’s economic development.
The projects of national significance should also feature complex technical processes involving advanced technologies, and infrastructure related to delivery of energy services.
The Wawa pumped storage power project is currently being developed by Olympia Violago Water Power (OVWPI), a subsidiary of Prime Infra.
The project, which entails around $2.57bn investment, will have a storage capacity of 6,000MWh per day and a generating output capacity of 600MW.
It aims to support the ancillary energy supply and energy storage requirements of the power grid and stands as a significant player in the energy landscape.
The project enables a continued supply of variable renewable energy, as it stores excess capacity when there’s an oversupply, and dispatches the same when the supply is down.
The Pakil pumped storage power project is currently being developed by Ahunan Power, which is also a wholly owned subsidiary of Prime Infra.
It entails around $5.03bn investment, will have a storage capacity of 14,000MWh per day, and generate 1,400MW capacity.
The two pumped storage projects planned to begin operations by 2030, also received the Green Lane endorsement from the country’s Department of Trade and Industry and Board of Investments.
