An additional 105 megawatts of power will be contributed to Luzon grid when all three units of newly rehabilitated Ambuklao hydroelectric power plant starts its commercial operation by October this year under SN Aboitiz Power-Benguet Inc. (SNAP-Benguet), a joint venture between Norway’s SN Power and Aboitiz Power Corp.. Unit 3 is the first to start operation as early as May while units 1 and 2 are currently undergoing trial operations and targeted to be fully operational by October.
Portions of the electricity to be generated by the Ambuklao facility may be traded via the wholesale electricity spot market (WESM) since all the three power units of the hydroelectric power plant have already received certificates of registration as participants. As early as June, SNAP-Benguet already joined other power generators as a seller, starting with 35 MW.
SNAP had ensured that no detail was too small for upgrading. The team had replacement done on turbines, main inlet valves, generators, transformers, switchgears, control system, circuit breakers and hydraulic structures (specifically intake gates, draft tube gates and stop logs).
This will be a new dawn for one of the Philippines earliest hydroelctric power plant that started its operation last Dec. 23, 1956 but was discontinued to operate in 2000 because of uncontrolled and heavy siltation due to the 1990 earthquake.
It is interesting to note that even the earliest power source of the Philippines came from renewable energy source.
