NIA chief Ricardo Visaya
The Magat Dam Reservoir in Isabela is foreseen by the administrator of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) to be developed into a renewable energy complex.
Retired general Ricardo Visaya, NIA administrator, expressed this vision after the installation and ceremonial switch-on of a pilot floating solar power project.
He reinforced this statement by noting that the direction of the government is to look into other potential renewable energy sources in the hope of improving the nation’s power supply.
Originally built as an irrigation system, the Magat Dam later on evolved into a hydro-power plant that provides 360 megawattsof electricity.
To reinforce this capability, NIA, in tandem with SN Aboitiz Power, embarked on a floating solar power project to generate additional power to support the electricity being generated by the hydro-power plant.
“This is a pilot project,” Visaya emphasized, “We will still study its potential to generate higher volume of power supply that will eventually lower the cost of electricity that is distributed to the households and commercial establishments.”
He continued, “If we will be successful in the installation of the solar power, this will be the second largest power generation plant in the country, next to Caliraya.”
The NIA said that if the potential area is expanded to 450 hectares, it can generate up to 4,500 megawatt of electricity.
Aside from serving electric consumers, it will arrest the evaporation of the dam water that will in turn arrest the fast deceleration of the water level, thus fostering a good fish habitat.
Visaya also cited the advantage of preventing the agricultural lands from being turned into solar power fields.
Hectares of plain lowland areas are to accommodate solar panels for a commercial solar power plant, he noted (Jojo Mangahis)