00:00Long before sunlight turned into the renewable energy of choice, the element of water was not only quenching our thirsts and growing our crops, but also helping light our homes and run our factories and industries.
00:13Today, the president heaped praise on the most reliable hydropower source and the oldest and biggest pumped storage hydropower plant in the land, which was officially turned over to the government, as our Denise Osorio reports.
00:30It's like a giant battery for the Luzon power grid. The Caliraya Botocan-Calayaan or CBK Hydro Complex in Calayaan, Laguna, can store electricity and release it when the system needs it most.
00:42President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. says the turnover is intended to support a power system that is more dependable and better prepared to meet demand in the years ahead.
00:51He also acknowledged the role of pumped storage technology in keeping the grid stable, particularly as more intermittent renewables become more accessible.
01:00With this privatization completed through the successful bid of over 36.27 billion pesos, the government is able to unlock significant resources while ensuring the continued operation of a strategically important energy asset.
01:17In doing so, the government can invest where it matters most, in our people. Particularly, these resources can be directed towards the immediate needs of the public, such as for classrooms, for roads, and for hospitals.
01:31The president added that this should mean fewer power cuts and less disruption to essential services, including in schools and hospitals.
01:39The CBK is a 797-megawatt hydroelectric complex made up of three facilities in Laguna, the Caliraya Hydroelectric Power Plant, the Botocan Hydroelectric Power Plant, recognized as the oldest hydro plant in the Philippines, and the largest of the three, the Calayaan Pump Storage Power Plant, which was commissioned in 1984 and the country's first pump storage facility.
02:01When demand is low, the pump storage plant uses electricity to pump water from Laguna, Dubai, up to Lake Caliraya.
02:08When demand is high, the water is released back down to turn the turbines, helping to shave peak demand and support frequency control on the grid.
02:16Department of Energy Secretary Sharon Garin says the CBK is important to the national grid, especially when consumption rises and extra backup is needed to keep supplies steady.
02:26For sure, CBK will be a big help kung may kulang tayo. Kasi ito nga yung ano natin eh, pang-regulate natin, pang-reserva natin. Ito lang actually ang nag-iisa sa buong bansa na pump storage natin. So talagang this is a national treasure.
02:42The DOE adds that during the summer, demand typically climbs, and some hydropower sources face seasonal limits. Hence, facilities such as the CBK that can respond quickly become even more crucial to keeping supplies stable.
02:56Aboite's power promises to look after CBK and invest in upgrades to improve and maximize operations. At the plant, four transformers support the system, but only three are in operation.
03:07Aboite's power says it aims to repair the faulty transformer within three months, so all four generating units can run at full capacity to deliver power to when the system calls for it.
03:17And unlike some renewable sources, such as solar, which relies on sunshine, and wind, which depends on conditions, pumped storage can be controlled and dispatched in line with demand on the grid.
03:29Aboite's power president, Danel Aboite, says pumped storage can also help smooth out price swings in the spot market by shifting supply from off-peak hours into more expensive peak periods.
03:39So off-peak, you know, at like 3 in the morning, 4 in the morning, if your West Ham price is at say 2 pesos, this will make it 2.10, 2.20.
03:48Sa peak naman, if your peak prices are like 10, 12 pesos, this will bring it down to 6.
03:53You are taking off-peak, excess off-peak supply when it's not priced, and you're adding generation to the peak.
04:02The Aboite's group describes CBK as a strategic asset, adding flexibility, stability, and resilience to the power system, helping meet peak demand and support reserves, and bring more renewables onto the grid without undermining reliability.
04:17To sum it up, energy security is economic security.
04:21Such facilities like CBK are key to keeping electricity both reliable and resilient for Filipinos.
04:27Denise Osorio, for the National Television Network, for a new and better Philippines.
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