EDC expands Mindanao geothermal site with new binary power plant
Steam pipes at Mount Apo, Mindanao Philippines (source: flickr/ penmanila)
Carlo Cariaga
27 Apr 2022
The Mindanao-3 binary power plant has started supplying power to the grid, increasing the capacity of the Mindanao geothermal site to 106.6 MW.
Philippine-based Energy Development Corporation (EDC) has inaugurated the 3.6-MW binary expansion of the Mindanao geothermal power plant. The binary plant, called Mindanao-3, is now supplying power to the grid and has increased the total power generation capacity of the Mindanao geothermal site to 106.6 MW.
The binary power plant uses brine from the Mindanao 1 and 2 geothermal power facilities. By utilizing the residual heat, the binary plant has provided capacity growth without the need to drill additional wells. Aside from providing reliable power to the Mindanao region, the expansion project will also result in savings of about 25,000 tonnes of equivalent carbon dioxide per year.
“The M3 binary plant is part of EDC’s commitment to continuously power the Mindanao region’s growing economy with 100-percent clean energy to lessen its dependence on fossil fuels such as coal that have primarily caused our warming planet.” said EDC Deputy Chief Operating Officer Jerome H. Cainglet.
Construction of the binary plant started in the early part of 2021, amidst the pandemic. Despite the challenges, the project was completed according to the planned schedule. EDC also noted that 567 jobs were provided during construction, greatly benefitting the nearby communities. Under the country’s Energy Regulations 1-94, the host-communities of the facility will also receive financial shares from the energy sales.
Source: Manila Bulletin
