EDC orders 29MW power generation system for BacMan geothermal plant

Lopez-led Energy Development Corp. (EDC) has ordered a 29-megawatt (MW) binary cycle power generation system from Turboden S.p.A -- a joint company of Italy-based Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. and Mitsubishi Power Ltd. -- for the local firm's geothermal plant in Palayan.

Turboden on Wednesday said it will provide the complete power generation system, which will add to the existing 120MW flash type geothermal power plant owned and operated by EDC subsidiary Bac-Man Geothermal Inc. The project completion and operation startup have been set at the end of 2022.

The new system will generate power by making effective use of brine, which will enable the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 72,200 tons per year, equivalent to 20,000 hectares of forest.

"With the new binary cycle geothermal power generation to derive from the introduction of ORC (Organic Rankine Cycle) technology under this project, additional excavation is unnecessary," Turboden said in an emailed statement.

"As the brine from the existing geothermal power system can be used to generate power, introducing ORC technology into geothermal power plants, including the many facilities already developed in the Philippines, means that brine previously discharged can be used as an effective heat source, enabling its use as a readily available carbon neutral power source," it added.

The project has been selected as a project for the Financing Program for Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM) Model Projects in FY2020 on Japan's Ministry of the Environment and its execution body the Global Environment Center Foundation (GEC).

Meanwhile, Mitsubishi Power will provide support through MHI Power (Philippines) Plant Services Corp., as it is set to dispatch on-site personnel to guide in the installation and the domestic transport.

EDC's geothermal power projects are engaged in two principal activities -- the production of geothermal steam for use at EDC and its subsidiaries' geothermal power plants; and the generation and sale of electricity through such plants.

EDC conducts commercial operations in geothermal contracts areas in Tongonan, Kananga, Leyte; Southern Negros, Valencia, Negros Oriental; Bacon-Manito, Albay and Sorsogon; and Mt. Apo, Kidapawan, Cotabato. —LBG, GMA News