The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) authorized the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines to complete a P2.799 billion power quality improvement project in Laoag by Dec. 31, 2026, to address voltage fluctuations caused by renewable energy sources.
The regulator approved the project after evaluating evidence and determining that the implementation will benefit consumers by providing continuous, safe, reliable, secure and efficient service.
The National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) filed the application after raising concerns about grid stability.
Ilocos Norte has nine existing power plants with a total VRE capacity of 509 megawatts. The province’s aggregate VRE capacity will increase to 937.95 megawatts by the end of 2026 with the addition of 428.95 megawatts, consisting of 230 megawatts of wind power and 198.95 megawatts of solar power.
To improve voltage stability in Ilocos Norte, the Laoag Power Quality Improvement Project will install a 50-MVAR grid-forming static synchronous compensator, known as a GFM-STATCOM, and two 25-MVAR, 230-kilovolt capacitor banks at the Laoag 230kV Substation.
