Progress comes with an increased demand for electricity. With Bulacan getting more and more industrialized and urbanized, there will be an even more increased demand for electricity. Our province needs sustainable sources or what we call green energy in Bulacan.
Did you know that we have a lot of existing green energy in Bulacan? These are from solar farms, hydroelectric, and biomass power plants. With increased access and transportation that connects the province faster to Metro Manila and other parts of the country (like the upcoming airport, increased bypass roads and highways, and even the PNR line), we would see that it would be really be very important to have these green energy in Bulacan.
Green Energy in Bulacan: Solar Farms
Leading this renewable energy drive is the solar farm in San Ildefonso. This is owned by the Bulacan Solar Energy Corporation. The photo below shows solar panels laid out in the town of San Ildefonso supplying 15 megawatts. An additional 86,400 solar panels are being laid here to supply 30 megawatts of electricity. More than 10,000 households can benefit from this.
In San Ildefonso and San Rafael, Solar Philippines Commercial Rooftop Projects Inc will deploy 421.2 megawatts of solar power plants each. On the other hand, in the City of San Jose Del Monte, about 80 megawatts will be added to the power supply. As per Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, these are harvested into the solar power plant to be invested by Manresa Power Corporation.
PowerSource First Bulacan Solar Inc., a consortium composed of Meralco PowerGen Corp. and its partners, started construction of a 50-megawatt solar power project in San Miguel, Bulacan early this year. The solar power project experienced a delay in the delivery of the PV panels from China brought about by the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) but nevertheless, the construction is now in full swing after getting approval from LGU to resume work.
Green Energy in Bulacan: Biomass Power Plant
Construction of a biomass power plant by Hypergreen Energy Corporation is set to begin construction in Bocaue. Using melted rice chaff, it can generate 12 megawatts of electricity. Target to finish the project by December 2020. Imagine that these were low value by-products (and even considered waste) that can now be converted to electricity!
Biomass power is carbon neutral electricity generated from renewable organic waste that would otherwise be dumped in landfills, openly burned, or left as fodder for forest fires. When burned, the energy in biomass is released as heat.
Green Energy in Bulacan: Angat Hydroelectric Power Plant
We have the Angat hydroelectric power plant which generates about 246 MW of electricity. However, the 53-year-old hydroelectric power plant is up for rehabilitation this year to extend the operating life by another 50 years. The upgrade works are expected to be completed by 2023. These works will increase the facility’s power generation capacity by 4% to 226.6MW according to the news sources.
Upcoming Bulacan Mega Projects
The construction of the PNR Line Tutuban to Malolos (Line 1) in full swing and the Bulacan International Airport (also known as the New Manila International Airport) is ready, to begin with, the approval from the House of Representatives. Approved on final reading last Tuesday, September 8 the bill granting a franchise to San Miguel Corporation to build and operate an international airport in Bulacan.
READ: The Much Awaited PNR Line Tutuban to Malolos Planned to Hit the Tracks in 2021
READ: Soon to Rise: A World-Class Bulacan Airport Worth $15B