NGCP Upgrades Substations In Benguet

The country’s power grid operator NGCP continues to improve the transmission system’s reliability and flexibility with the commissioning of a 300-megavolt ampere (MVA) and 50-MVA power transformers at its La Trinidad and Ambuklao Substations, respectively.

Energized in March, the 300-MVA transformer in La Trinidad Substation accommodates the 130-MW peak load of Baguio City, the entire Benguet and Mt. Province, and parts of Ilocos Sur and Kalinga. To comply with the Philippine Grid Code’s N-1 contingency requirement, which is the ability of the grid to withstand the loss of a major system component with minimal disruption, another 300-MVA transformer is expected to be commissioned at La Trinidad Substation this July 2015.

With the 50-MVA transformer at Ambuklao Substation, the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) may now draw power from either La Trinidad or Ambuklao Substation.

The energization of power transformers is part of the Luzon Substation Expansion Project, which also includes substation equipment testing and upgrading of conductors and other associated equipment.