French company Hydrogène de France Energy will start the technical studies for its proposed 45-megawatt power plant in Zamboanga this month, according to the Mindanao Development Authority.
MinDA said HDF Energy would invest a “huge amount” in the proposed power plant as the company is expanding to Sibuco, Sirawai, Siocon and Baliguian (Triple SB) municipalities in Zamboanga del Norte, Zambo Economic Zone and Zamboanga City.
“Starting Jan. 23, 2023, technical studies and tests will be done on the 17-hectare land to include a geotechnical survey, hydrological survey and an environmental survey,” MinDA said.
It said the geotechnical survey includes elevation, soil test and flood analysis, while the hydrological survey and study include groundwater depth, source, seawater distance and hydrogen component of seawater.
The environmental study is focused on tree tagging, flora and fauna, and air, water and soil components.
MinDA said the Zambo Ecozone and Zamboanga City Electric Cooperative expressed interest in forging a power supply agreement with HDF Energy’s planned green hydrogen technology.
It said the Zambo Ecozone would facilitate the 50-hectare land requirement for the project to be located at the ecozone, while ZAMCELCO will facilitate the land requirement in Vitali, Zamboanga City.
HDF Energy signed a memorandum of cooperation with MinDA, the Zamboanga Sibugay provincial government, a group of municipalities on the island of Olutanga and the Zamboanga del Sur II Electric Cooperative in March 2022 for the study and development of Renewstable power plant projects in Mindanao.
Renewstable multi-megawatt power plants produce renewable, stable and controllable electricity 24/7 with zero greenhouse gas emissions.
They combine intermittent renewable energies (solar or wind) with massive long-term storage of electricity in the form of hydrogen and short-term battery storage to provide clean, stable and continuous power.
“We are immensely proud to be partnering with authorities in the Southern Philippines for the development of virtuous economic projects that today meet demand from the huge market for non-intermittent renewable energy. We are fully prepared to invest, develop and operate Renewstable® power plants,” HDF Energy chairman and chief executive Damien Havard said during the signing ceremony last year.
HDF Energy is a global pioneer in hydrogen energy. It develops high-capacity hydrogen power plants that provide continuous or on-demand electricity from renewable energy sources (wind or solar) combined with high-power fuel cells supplied by HDF Energy.