Aboitiz Power geothermal operations fulfill governmental standards
Tiwi-Makban plant, Philippines
Alexander Richter
16 Jul 2010
Geothermal operations of AP Renewables, a subsidiary of Aboitiz Power, are granted with governmental certification on environmental, technical and financial standards, required by Philippine law for ongoing commercial operations.
In the Philippines, “AP Renewables, Inc. and Hedcor Sibulan, Inc., both wholly owned subsidiaries of AboitizPower Corp., were recently granted Certificates of Compliance (COC) by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC).”, which certify environmental, technical and financial standards, so news from Manila.
“The COCs were granted after APRI’s ten-unit geothermal facilities in Laguna and Batangas and Hedcor’s Hydropower Plant B in Davao del Sur were found to be compliant with the ERC’s required environmental, technical, and financial standards. The latter was also found to be compliant with the technical design and operational criteria of the Philippine Grid and Distribution Code (PGDC).
The COC of AboitizPower’s Tiwi facilities, meanwhile, is already undergoing renewal and will be granted soon.
Generation companies are required by the ERC to renew their COCs to have continued commercial operations.
APRI’s 10-unit geothermal facilities located at Bgy. Bitin in the Municipality of Bay and Bgy. Limao in the Municipality of Calauan in Laguna and Bgy. Sta. Elena in the Municipality of Sto. Tomas in Batangas have an aggregate installed capacity of 442.80 megawatts, enough to power around 442,000 households.
Hedcor Sibulan Plants A and B, meanwhile, have a combined design output of 42.5 megawatts and is contracted for sale to the Davao Light and Power Company. It has been seen by the business sector to significantly ease the power shortage in Mindanao.
ERC Chairperson Zenaida Cruz-Ducut lauded both APRI and Hedcor for the said renewable energy facilities.
“Geothermal power is an indigenous renewable energy source that needs to be optimized since it is climate friendly and cheaper than natural gas, coal, and even hydro power. Geothermal energy provides 27% of the Philippines’ total electricity production. APRI’s COC would greatly serve public interest for it will ensure electricity stability and sustainability,” she said.
Hedcor Sibulan Plant B, meanwhile, is a “welcome addition to the supply of electricity in Mindanao.”
“The ERC is glad that there are industry players that are dedicated in developing the country’s renewable energy source,” Ducut said.
APRI’s geothermal plants and Hedcor Sibulan’s hydropower facilities are part of AboitizPower’s Cleanergy assets, its brand of cleaner and renewable energy that leaves a lighter impact on the Earth’s climate and limited resources.
AboitizPower launched Cleanergy as early as 2001. Through it, the company envisages a future wherein both people and businesses power their activities with cleaner and renewable power, and companies that have chosen Cleanergy will be recognized for making the responsible choice; and where customers can be part of a community of like-minded people who champion sustainable energy use, from businesses to households.
It is also a future that sees Cleanergy contributing to sustainability projects that promote the development of new sources of clean and renewable power, participate in more activities that encourage the use of efficient energy.”
Source: Manila Bulletin
