Hydroelectric dreams: Philippines to build 20 more dams for power generation (2024)

Among the nation’s hydroelectric facilities, 14 operate as conventional dams, while 15 adopt the run-of-the-river technique. It also boasts Southeast Asia's first pumped hydroelectric plant, which first came online in 1983.

Energy consumption

As the country contemplates its energy future, renewed attention is being directed towards hydropower, now being harnessed even in the desert. The Philippines, blessed with abundant natural water resources, is largely a fossil fuel-consuming country. Coal has the highest contribution to the power generation mix at 58 per cent in 2021, according to the Department of Energy. That is about to change.

The attention to hydro-electric poweris prompted in part by the country’s high, unsubsidised electricity cost,and its troubled history with nuclear energy, epitomised by a $2.3-billion Bataan Nuclear Power Plant left unused due to doubts over its integrity, geohazard and allegations of kickbacks.

This re-evaluation aligns with the Department of Energy's ambitious goal of achieving universal household electrification, amid the climate challenge posed by El Niño/La Niña, an irregularly occurring and complex series of climatic changes affecting the equatorial Pacific region, including the Philippines.

Unique solution

Amidst this energy landscape, the Kalayaan Pumped-Storage Hydroelectric Project emerges as a notable example.

Commissioned on February 23, 1983, with an initial output of 324.3 MW from two turbines, this project by the state-owned the National Power Corporation (NPC), is slated for a significant expansion.

The upgrade, reportedly now navigating the permitting stage, aims to boost the project’s capacity from the current 336 MW (achieved following a subsequent upgrade of Kalayaan Turbine 1) to an impressive 796 MW.

Unique to the Philippines and a pioneering endeavour in Southeast Asia, the Kalayaan Pumped Storage project holds distinction as the country's one and only such facility at the moment.

Comprising two turbines, Kalayaan I, originally designed for 150 MW, underwent subsequent upgrades to reach 168 MW, while Kalayaan II was constructed with a capacity of 174.3 MW, totaling 332.3 MW using Francis turbines.

Functioning as a linchpin of power generation in the Philippines, the Kalayaan Complex serves as a vital peaking facility for the Luzon Grid.

Its operational cycle cleverly utilises daytime electricity generation to meet high demand, while nocturnal hours witness the storage of energy through the pumping of water from Laguna Lake (which straddles the provinces of Laguna, Rizal and Metro Manila)to Caliraya (in Quezon Province).

A reported upgrade will introduce two 336-MW power generators, further amplifying the project's contribution to the country's power generation capacity.

Cutting bureaucratic procedures

In July, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. pledged to streamline bureaucratic procedures within the energy sector to attract investors, urging the private sector to collaborate with the government in delivering affordable, reliable, and environmentally friendly energy solutions.

Speaking at the inauguration of the 24.9-megawatt (MW) Lake Mainit Hydro Power Plant in Jabonga, Agusan del Norte, he reiterated his call for private sector participation in advancing the nation's energy goals.

President Marcos Jr. also urged local governments to extend full support to ensure the efficiency, safety, and productivity of the hydropower plant.

The Lake Mainit hydroelectric, a collaboration between Markham Resources Corp. and J-POWER Group, is a run-of-river power project promises numerous benefits, aiming to sustainably serve approximately 45,000 households while generating socioeconomic opportunities for residents of Agusan del Norte and Mindanao.

4 new “high dams”

More high dams are on the drawing board, if not already on the way. The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) announced on March 28, 2024, its plans to construct four new "high dams" by 2028, aiming to bolster the country's water security and address flood control requirements.

According to NIA Administrator Eddie G. Guillen, these dams will be erected in the Tumauini River, Panay River Basin, Ilocos Sur, and Mindanao, following President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s directive.

Guillen emphasised the multifaceted benefits of high dams, citing irrigation, flood control, power generation, domestic water supply, and aquaculture as key advantages.

He underscored the President's focus on these projects, highlighting the substantial returns they offer. High dams, by NIA standards, have a height of 100 metres or higher.

20 dams

The NIA Administrator disclosed plans for the completion of at least 20 high and medium-sized dams by 2028, with 10 slated to kick off construction in 2024.

Some of these dams, Guillen explained, have undergone expedited development through a design and build manual, aiming for completion within the current year.

“Our design and build manual shortened the implementation of the dam from conception to actual construction by three years,” noted Guillen.

Planned sites

Among the potential sites for these dams in the Visayas region, NIA is actively engaged in projects such as the Jalaur Dam and other initiatives within the Panay River Basin, alongside smaller or medium-sized dam constructions.

In addition to new constructions, the government aims to rehabilitate major dams like Magat and Pantabangan, which have served for nearly half a century.

This comprehensive approach reflects the government's commitment to enhancing water infrastructure to meet the country's evolving needs.