LOPEZ-LED Energy Development Corp. (EDC) plans to take a position as much as P100 billion to expand and upgrade its Leyte geothermal power complex.
EDC is proposing several modifications to the Tongonan Geothermal Project (TGP) that might raise its total rated capability to 967.224 megawatts (MW) from 637.21 MW, in response to a filing with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
The proposed works include the development of a brand new Upper Mahiao Power Plant, the upgrade of the Mahanagdong Power Plant, the drilling of additional wells, the upgrading of existing well pads, the expansion of the battery energy storage system, and further exploration drilling.
“The planned modifications on the TGP will secure long-term production, sustain supply to the Visayas grid, and improve efficiency by generating more power from the identical steam resource,” EDC said.
The corporate plans to decommission the present 30-year-old Upper Mahiao Power Plant and replace it with a brand new facility with a capability of 450 MW, or greater than thrice its current output.
The present 136.5-MW Upper Mahiao plant, which EDC took over in 2006, began business operations in 1996 and was the country’s first geothermal project developed under a build-operate-transfer scheme.
EDC can also be proposing to upgrade the 180-MW Mahanagdong Power Plant through the deployment of modular binary units, a move aimed toward improving efficiency without expanding the plant’s footprint.
To extend steam supply, the corporate plans to drill 172 additional wells inside the present project block and to upgrade current well pads to enhance safety and reliability while minimizing additional land use.
Adjoining to the present 10-MW Tongonan battery energy storage system, EDC plans to expand capability to 30 MW to supply additional grid support.
Individually, the corporate is targeting the beginning of drilling activities at Alto Peak, which is predicted to contribute steam comparable to about 30 MW of additional generating capability.
Construction and commissioning of the brand new facilities are expected to start this yr, with all proposed modifications targeted to be operational by 2029.
“Once operational, the extra output will reinforce Leyte’s position as a serious energy supplier and help meet the ability needs of Eastern Visayas and the national grid,” EDC said.
EDC, the renewable energy subsidiary of First Gen Corp., has a complete installed capability of 1,480.19 MW, accounting for about 20% of the Philippines’ total renewable energy capability.
Since 1976, the corporate has developed geothermal facilities across Bicol, Leyte, Negros Island, and Mindanao. — Sheldeen Joy Talavera