Energy Development Corp. (EDC), a subsidiary of Lopez-led First Gen Corp., is preparing a multi-year rehabilitation program for its geothermal fleet, with the Tongonan geothermal power plant in Leyte as the initial focus of upgrades.

Asian Power reports that the renewable energy developer has tapped an international engineering firm with experience in similar geothermal projects abroad to guide the design and planning process.

According to EDC’s facility head Art Troyo, the company is currently in the data-gathering stage, with final design and cost estimates to be completed within six months. Construction and equipment replacement will take two to three years.

Troyo added that EDC is looking into new technologies, including electrical submersible pumps to revitalize older wells and modular binary plants that can add incremental capacity without heavy infrastructure.

“These are still in the planning stage, but since they are already used abroad, we hope to replicate similar success,” he said, citing the potential to boost Tongonan’s output by 10 to 15 megawatts (MW).

In recent years, EDC has replaced turbines and generator rotors in Tongonan, while shifting to nearly full automation.

 “Operations now focus on optimising and monitoring the plant, with less manual adjustment,” Troyo added. The company is also set to replace nine cooling towers with typhoon- and earthquake-resilient designs. With the planned rehabilitation, Tongonan is expected to remain in operation until at least 2046.

EDC is rolling out a similar modernization plan across its other geothermal assets. The 180 MW Mahanagdong facilities are scheduled for rehabilitation and capacity upgrades within three to five years. Upper Mahiao, meanwhile, is slated for complete plant replacement that could increase output from 130 MW to at least 200 MW, supported by new geothermal wells.

EDC operates eight geothermal power plants nationwide with a combined capacity of more than 1,100 MW, making it the country’s largest geothermal producer and a key player in baseload renewable energy.

What do you think about EDC’s phased approach to extending the life of its geothermal plants—especially as the Philippines looks to balance reliability with renewable energy expansion?

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