AP Renewables Inc., a subsidiary of Aboitiz Power Corp., said Monday it signed the engineering, procurement and construction agreements for its 17-megawatt binary geothermal power plant in Tiwi, Albay.
APRI awarded the EPC contracts to Ormat Technologies Inc. and Desco Inc., two companies best known for engineering services, power plant system designs and technical expertise in the geothermal energy industry.
“We are glad to move this project forward with partners we already know and trust. This collaboration will reinforce our commitment to providing much-needed Cleanergy to the grid,” APRI president and chief operating officer Jeffrey Estrella said.
Cleanergy is Aboitiz Power’s renewable energy solutions brand. It comes from the RE portfolio of Aboitiz Power from run-of-river, large hydro, solar, geothermal and soon wind that will provide reliable and reasonably-sourced energy to businesses and communities at a reasonably competitive price.
Both companies are long-time partners of APRI, with Desco providing control and instrumentation materials plus staffing services for 11 years.
Ormat built and designed APRI’s binary facilities for the MakBan geothermal power plant in Laguna
“We are excited about this endeavor, especially its positive impact to our host communities,” Estrella said.
APRI and its partners aim to officially break ground for the project in the first quarter and eyes completion by year-end.
The plant will utilize excess heat from spent brine at the Tiwi geothermal facility, the country’s first geothermal power plant.
APRI signed an agreement with its steam provider in April to supply brine to fuel the binary plant.
“Every step counts in our bid to grow our renewable energy portfolio. We are determined to reach our targets, and this project proves that we are ready to pursue every reasonable opportunity,” Aboitiz Power president and chief executive Manny Rubio said.
Aboiti Power plans to spend around P190 billion over the next decade for an additional 3,700 MW of RE, growing its capacities to 4,600 MW by 2030.
The company has around 1,000 MW of disclosed RE projects and is on its way toward its targets.