News

EDC expects optimisation to increase overall geothermal capacity by 50 MW

EDC expects optimisation to increase overall geothermal capacity by 50 MW Palinpinon geothermal plant, Philippines (source: Commons/ Wikimedia)
Alexander Richter 13 Jun 2016

The Philippines Energy Development Company is expecting to increase its overall geothermal power generation capacity by 50 MW through technology optimisation at its Tongonan, Nasulo and Palinpinon geothermal plants.

As reported today from the Philippines, Energy Development Corp. (EDC) is expected to complete a strategic technology optimization of its geothermal power plants, which will increase its capacity output by 50 megawatts (MW)b y the first half of next year.

Richard Tantoco, president and chief operating officer of EDC, said the Tongonan geothermal power plant in Leyte will hike its capacity from 120 MW to 140 MW.

He further said Nasulo in Negros Oriental will have a capacity increase by another 20 MW from 49.4 MW.

Palinpinon, also located in Negros Oriental, will be the last power plant set for optimization, according to the EDC head. Its capacity will likely increase from 192.5 MW to 202.5 MW.

Tantoco said the higher capacity would better its revenues by an “additional PhP600 million.”

He noted that the BacMan (Bacon-Manito) geothermal power plant has completed its rehabilitation from the damage of super typhoon “Yolanda.” The cooling towers were redesigned and re-engineered, which caused the long repair.

“That’s all done. The facilities that were longest to install, the cooling towers which we completely redesigned and re-engineered,” the EDC head told reporters in an interview.

The renewable energy firm also acquired spares for its equipment to prepare for another potential devastating storm.

Energy Development Corp. has a total capacity of 1,457.8 MW, from geothermal, hydro, wind and solar power facilities. (EDC)

Source: Philippines Information Agency