Assessment on lower heat resources in the Philippines to be completed this year
Camaya Coast, Bataan Peninsula, Philippines (source: flickr/ John T Pilot, creative commons)
Francisco Rojas
23 Jun 2014
The department of Energy is targeting to increase the country’s installed capacity to 3,307 MW by 2030 based on the Philippine Energy Plan 2013-2030. In the selected areas, small-scale geothermal projects for local electrical needs will be preferred
According to local news, Ariel D. Fronda, chief of the department’s geothermal energy division, said this is the department’s plan following a resource assessment yet to make recommendations on the two other areas that were part of the resource assessment. These areas are situated in Banton Island, Romblon; and Maricaban Island, Batangas, where Mr. Fronda noted that the Energy department will likely seek private sector participation in further drilling activity.
The activity was intended to develop areas with lower total heat content compared to traditional geothermal fields. The department’s resource assessment of selected geothermal areas in the Philippines started in 2011. It is set to be completed this year.
These areas, according to Mr. Fronda’s presentation, would be applicable to small-scale geothermal projects for local electrical needs. The Energy department has so far awarded 41 geothermal energy service contracts with total installed capacity of 1,847 MW.
The sources say that as of end-January, there were two pending applications for projects with combined potential capacity of 60 MW. The department is targeting to increase the country’s installed capacity to 3,307 MW by 2030 based on the Philippine Energy Plan 2013-2030.
Source: Business World Online Website
