MANITO, Albay—The Department of Energy lauded the completion of the 28.9-megawatt Palayan Binary Geothermal Power Plant (PBGPP) of Energy Development Corp,, the renewable energy arm of the Lopez-led First Gen Corp.
The PBGPP is part of the expansion of its existing 140=MW Bacon-Manito (BacMan) facility as it provides additional power to the grid and boost the country’s renewable energy efforts.
EDC officials unveiled on Friday the P7-billion binary geothermal project operated by EDC’s wholly-owned subsidiary BacMan Geothermal Inc. which harnesses the thermal energy of brine, a by-product from EDC’s 120-MW Palayan Bayan 1 flash geothermal power plant to generate electricity without the need for additional steam.
“Every megawatt of additional power that enters the grid is crucial. The projected 215.8 gigawatt-hour of power that the Palayan Bayan binary power plant will generate each year will not only contribute to our energy security agenda, but also to our important contribution toward the cleaner energy transition goals as set in our National Renewable Energy Program, which targets a renewable energy mix of 35 percent by 2030 and 50 percent by 2040,” Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla said.
The project employs a zero-discharge system that ensures brine and other fluids are efficiently re-injected into the reservoir, minimizing environmental impact.
PBGPP was successfully synchronized with the Luzon grid in January this year. The plant’s gross annual generation is projected at 253,000 megawatt-hours with net annual generation of 219,800 MWh.
The facility is also expected to reduce the country’s carbon emissions by an estimated 72,200 tons each year.
PBGPP is one of four geothermal growth projects conceived and commenced during the COVID-19 pandemic, which are all targeted to be operational within 2024 with a combined overall capacity of 86 MW.
The others are EDC’s 28-MW Mahanagdong Binary in Leyte, 20-MW Tanawon Binary also in BacMan and the 5.6-MW Bago Binary in Negros Occidental.
“Construction of the PBGPP began in the last quarter of 2021 amid the uncertainties of the pandemic. Despite these challenges, we have remained steadfast in advancing these projects while prioritizing the health and safety of all our workers,” said EDC president and chief operating officer Jerome Cainglet.
“We thank all our EDC employees involved in this landmark project for their tireless dedication and commitment, as well as our partner contractors and relevant government bodies such as the Provincial Government of Bicol, local government of Manito, Albay, Department of Energy (DOE), the Energy Regulatory Commission, the Board of Investments, and the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines,” he said.
PBGPP contributes a positive impact to Bicol through EDC’s institutionalized corporate social responsibility initiatives.
Primary of these is Community-Based Technical-Vocational Skills Training that produces TESDA NC-II certification in industries such as Scaffolding and Masonry, Welding, and Electrical Installation and Maintenance.
EDC through BGI donated four sewing machines that members of the Bacman Host Communities Multipurpose Cooperative (BMPC) are currently using to make plush toys to raise funds and increase awareness for the Flagship Species Initiative (FSI) of EDC’s signature reforestation program BINHI.
EDC has over 1,464.5MW total installed capacity that accounts for almost 20% of the country’s total installed RE capacity.
Its 1,169.85-MW geothermal portfolio comprises 80 percent of the country’s total installed geothermal capacity, making the Philippines the third largest geothermal producer in the world. First Gen is the Philippines’ leading clean energy company.