Manila: The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) on Wednesday warned against the potential impact of renewable energy (RE) on power grid stability following a recent incident in Luzon.

According to Philippines News Agency, NGCP reported that parts of Northern Luzon experienced voltage fluctuations in December when brief cloud cover affected output from the San Marcelino Solar Farm in Zambales, resulting in temporary capacity instability. The NGCP emphasized that while such variability can be managed with fast-acting resources, conventional generation methods, like coal power plants, struggle to respond quickly due to longer ramping times.

The NGCP stated its support for expanding the country's renewable energy capacity but highlighted the need to recognize that not all renewable energy technologies operate in the same manner. The grid operator noted that technologies such as wind and solar are inherently variable or supply energy intermittently, necessitating careful handling to ensure stability.

Furthermore, the NGCP stressed the importance of addressing operational requirements on both the transmission and generation sides to maintain grid stability and mitigate fluctuations from variable renewable energy sources.

Currently, renewable energy comprises about 32 percent of the Philippines' energy mix, with government plans to increase this share to 35 percent by 2030 and 50 percent by 2040. The Department of Energy has indicated that measures are being implemented to ensure the seamless integration of renewable energy into the power grid.