First Gen Hydro Power is investing P6 billion ($124.89 million) to develop a 120 megawatts (MW) Aya pumped hydro storage project in Pantabangan, Philippines.
The project includes two 60 MW turbines with a maximum capacity of 120 MW and is the first pumped hydro energy in Philippines. It could store eight hours of energy.
It is being developed to enable better regulation of intermittency in Luzon, the largest island in Philippines.
According to the company's report submitted to the Philippine Department of Environment and Natural Resources last week, the addition of the pump storage will enable the technical capability to provide ancillary services which in turn will allow for full year operations of independent irrigation demands from the Pantabangan Reservoir.
First Gen plans to build the project at the existing Aya dam next to the Pantabangan Main dam at the Pantabangan-Masiway Hydroelectric Complex that is owned and operated by the firm.
John Yeap of Pinsent Masons, the firm behind Out-Law, said, “The increase in intermittent power generation is putting a strain on transmission networks globally and this is also true of the Philippines electricity grid. Fast start power capability either through battery storage or pump storage has therefore a role to play in helping to smooth out intermittency. This new pump storage project should therefore have a role to play in capturing some of the value that can be released through its operational characteristics.”
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