by Sheryl B. Paga
In line with the activities for National Disaster
Resilience Month this July 2023, the Department
of Energy (DOE), through the Task Force on
Energy Resiliency (TFER) and in partnership with
the United States Agency for International
Development – Energy Secure Philippines
(USAID-ESP), conducted the 2023 Energy
Resiliency Forum on July 25, 2023.
The forum was themed “Pursuing Innovative
Energy Resiliency Solutions Toward a Climate-
Proof Energy System.” One of the resource
speakers was Engr. Paulino G. Almedilla, MBA,
General Manager of Bohol Light Company, Inc.
(BLCI), who highlighted the importance of mobile
substation technology in making power grids more
resilient to disasters.
Almedilla also expounded on the utilization of
mobile substations for energy resilience.
He noted that the Bohol transmission line is highly
vulnerable to island-wide power interruptions each
time there is a calamity.
As a result, BLCI is taking steps to adapt
innovation and use the latest technology to make
its distribution infrastructure more resilient.
On May 18, 2023, BLCI energized its new 20MVA
Mobile Substation located at R. Enerio St.,
Poblacion III, Tagbilaran City.
A mobile substation is a self-contained electrical
power distribution system that can be quickly
transported and erected in temporary or
emergency situations.
It offers a flexible option for distributing electricity
when a permanent substation is not accessible or
when power needs to be restored following a
natural disaster or infrastructure breakdown.
The new mobile substation has contributed to the
following factors in BLCI’s distribution system:
Increased installed capacity to cater the
increasing demand
Prevention of other substations from
overloading
Enhanced flexibility of the distribution network
According to Almedilla, one of the advantages of
having a mobile substation compared to a
conventional substation is its speedy deployment.
Mobile Substation also requires fewer permits from
government agencies, needs a smaller area, and
has a lower land development cost. Additionally,
mobile substations improve power system
reliability, quality, and flexibility.
The 2023 Energy Resiliency Forum was a valuable
opportunity for participants to learn about
innovative solutions to improve energy resilience.
About Energy Resilience
Energy resilience refers to the ability of an energy
system to anticipate, prepare for, and adapt to
changing conditions and to recover quickly from
disruptions. This is essential in a country like the
Philippines, which is vulnerable to natural
disasters.
There are a number of ways to improve energy
resilience. One is to invest in new technologies,
such as mobile substations. Another is to
strengthen existing infrastructure, such as
transmission and distribution lines. It is also
important to have a well-trained workforce that can
respond to disruptions quickly and effectively.
The forum was held at Hotel TBD in BGC, Taguig
City, and was attended by participants from
different government offices throughout the
country and stakeholders.