Alternergy Holdings Corporation has started commercial operations of its 5MW Dupinga Run-of-River hydro power plant in Gabaldon, Nueva Ecija, Philippines, through its subsidiary Dupinga Mini Hydro Corporation.
The plant is Alternergy’s second renewable energy facility to begin operations this year, following the 28MWp Balsik Solar Power Plant in Hermosa, Bataan, which started in early February.
“The start of the commercial operations of Balsik Solar and now Dupinga ROR Hydro completes Alternergy’s Triple Play portfolio of wind, solar, and hydro renewable resources,” said Gerry P. Magbanua, president of Alternergy. “With hydro now online, our Triple Play strategy of diversifying revenues across complementary technologies is expected to boost Alternergy’s asset base and share value to our investors.”
The Dupinga project has a contracted supply agreement with Nueva Ecija Electric Cooperative II – Area 2 (NEECO II-Area 2) for 20 years as an embedded generator. It is expected to deliver around 23,000 MWh annually.
“The Dupinga Project was a long time in the making. It navigated through the impacts of various challenges from permitting to indigenous peoples engagements to climate-related events, pandemic, and geopolitics,” said Eduardo Martinez Miranda, president of Alternergy Mini Hydro Holdings Corporation. “Teamwork, perseverance, and patience held the Dupinga Project together to the finish line,” he added.
The facility includes a 3km concrete headrace and a 1km steel siphon system designed to follow the natural contours of the site.
Alternergy said the project will supply renewable energy to around 13,000 households and avoid approximately 16,500 metric tonnes of carbon emissions annually.
Located at the far end of the NEECO II-Area 2 franchise area, the project is also expected to improve power reliability and quality in Gabaldon and nearby municipalities following associated distribution system upgrades.
“With the completion of the Dupinga Project, we are looking at focusing resources to the other shovel-ready ROR project located in Kiangan, Ifugao,” Mr. Miranda said. “This is another challenge, but we are looking forward to implementing the strategies, innovations, and lessons learned from our already completed project,” he said.
Alternergy plans to complete two additional projects this year, the 128MW Tanay Wind Power Project and the 64MW Alabat Wind Power Project, which would bring its new capacity additions to 225MW as it works toward a target of 1GW of renewable capacity by 2030.
For the Dupinga project, GUGLER supplied a complete electromechanical package as part of its “water-to-wire” approach, integrating turbine, generator and control equipment.
