Lopez-led Energy Development Corporation (EDC) has started the construction of its 29-megawatt (MW) binary power plant project, which is part of the Bacon-Manito (BacMan) geothermal plant’s expansion.
During the groundbreaking ceremony of the Palayan Binary Power Plant project, EDC President and CEO Richard Tantoco said the venture is the company’s additional contribution to a much needed clean baseload and reliable renewable energy that supports the government’s goal of providing adequate and continuous supply of energy to the country.
Located in Manito, Albay, the plant is targeted to go online by the end of 2022. It is expected to generate 215.8 gigawatt-hours of clean energy and expand the existing 130MW Bacon-Manito (BacMan) facility.
EDC will be allocating fresh investment of Php7 billion for the expansion project.
Tantoco added that the project would be EDC’s contribution to the Philippines’ goal of reducing carbon emissions by 75% come 2030 and is expected to help the country cut carbon emissions by 72,200 tons annually.
EDC also pointed out that the project will be utilizing the heat from the 110MW BacMan 1 geothermal power plant to generate additional energy without the need for additional drilling.
It explained that heat from the brine, usually produced from wet stream operations, will be used to generate electricity by the new power plant before re-injecting back to the reservoir.
Tantoco also said that the construction of the project will continue despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and assured that the safety of all workers at the project site will be the utmost priority.
The project is also expected to boost the local economy and develop 600 jobs for communities around the project site.
