HINDI MANGYAYARI na magkakaroon ng red o yellow alerts dahil sa mababang power reserves kapag ang nuclear energy ay idinagdag sa power mix ng Pilipinas.

“If the electricity mix contains substantial nuclear, that won’t happen. Because the capacity factor of nuclear is 90%. It doesn’t depend on the weather,” ayon kay Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) Director Dr. Carlo Arcilla sa isang panayam.

“The more you increase the percentage of nuclear power in the mix, the more reliable the electricity,” dagdag na wika nito.

Napapadalas kasi ang pagpapalabas ng National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) ng red at yellow alerts ngayong panahon ng tag-init kasabay ng pagtaas ng power demand dahil sa matinding init.

Ipinahihiwatig ng yellow alert na ang power grid ay may manipis na reserves, base sa ‘supply and demand’ habang ang red alert naman ay nagpapahiwatig na mayroong zero ancillary services o may umiiral na generation deficiency. Maaaring mag-trigger ang red alert ng power interruptions.

At nang tanungin naman ukol sa posibilidad ng nuclear plant shutdown, sinabi ni Arcilla na naka-iskedyul ang plant maintenance.

“The plant maintenance is scheduled. One month, every 18 months. Walang sudden breakdowns. Wala. Kasi tuloy-tuloy ‘yan. In fact, it’s very boring when you’re in a nuclear plant. Because it’s very predictable,” aniya pa rin.

Ayon kay Arcilla, mayroong 450 civilian reactors ngayon sa buong mundo, at maging karagdagang 7 submarines na pinapagana ng nuclear energy.

(CHRISTIAN DALE)