Feb 8 2010
National Power Corporation (Napocor) has announced that it is partnering with Enertine, a French company, to provide electricity to regions that are not served by the country’s utility grids by utilizing biomass technology.
Sugarcane and rice husks, dead wood, logging residues, and wood wastes are the common biomass feedstock. Froilan A. Tampinco, President of Napocor, said that the French company is ready to work with any kind of biomass material. The state-owned company is assessing various sites with potential for sustainable raw material source for biomass.
The project will be developed under Napocor’s electrification program, Small Power Utilities Group (SPUG). Remote islands and villages that are not served by the nation’s three main grids will be provided power through SPUG. The proposed biomass plants will be located in various locations with up to 42 MW of total capacity.
With the passage of Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001, the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (PSALM), is handling the Napocor’s main grid operations. SPUG serves about eight isolated grids and 78 island grids to provide electricity for three local government units and 39 electric cooperatives.