Three biomass power plants in Negros island with a combined capacity of 70 megawatts and total investments of P16 billion are set to deliver electricity within the year.
The BioPower Group spearheaded by Negros Island Biomass Holdings Inc. and funded by global investment firm ThomasLloyd is aiming to have three operational biomass plants fueled by sugarcane field residues by the end of the year.
San Carlos BioPower achieved a power generation level of 20 MW on September 21. It is the first in the world to purely run on sugarcane trash.
“The plant has accomplished its proof of concept from the logistical system of sugarcane trash collection to the conversion to electricity,” said BioPower president Arthur Aguilar in a statement.,
Two more biomass power plants, North Negros BioPower and South Negros BioPower will be connected to the grid within this year.
“The team is pleased to finally have SCBP connect and export power to the grid. Our goal is to have all 3 of our plants running by end of this year and improve the quality of power in the island of Negros,” Aguilar said.
The plants will be supported by 12 BioPower-owned and -operated transloading stations, strategically located in the Negros region to annually collect and utilize over 610,000 tons of feedstock as fuel.
“We have among the largest agricultural fleet to have sufficient collection capabilities for fuel inventory, while also having around 1,500 employees to support our day-to-day operations” Aguilar said.
BP’s utilization of cane trash will provide 510 gigawatt-hours of energy on its first year of operation, and is estimated to power 160,000 homes and reduce 57,680 tons of CO2 emissions.
The biomass projects in Negros have provided substantial countryside development in host communities, while also adding income to local farmers.
BioPower’s collection of cane trash is as important as bagasse feedstock for fuel. It adds value to diversifying the sugar industry and mitigate the practice of open field burning, without additional investment from planters.
