First Gen Corporation marked the 50th anniversary of its geothermal subsidiary, Energy Development Corporation (EDC), by unveiling a unified corporate brand aimed at aligning its renewable energy portfolio, supply business, and customer energy solutions.

The announcement of the new First Gen Group was made during the milestone event at Solaire North in Quezon City. The celebration commemorated five decades of geothermal development in the Philippines, highlighting EDC’s role in building the country’s indigenous renewable energy sector.

EDC was established in 1976 through Presidential Decree 927 as a state-owned corporation tasked with developing geothermal resources and reducing the country’s reliance on imported oil. By the mid-1980s, the Philippines had emerged as a global leader in geothermal energy before EDC became part of First Gen following its privatization in 2007.

First Gen Chairman Federico Lopez said the company’s geothermal operations have played a key role in strengthening the country’s energy system by harnessing local renewable resources.

“From the very beginning, the mandate of EDC was clear: harness indigenous resources and develop homegrown power supply that will make the country’s energy grid resilient and secure,” Lopez said.

As part of the anniversary celebration, First Gen introduced a unified corporate brand structure that consolidates its business lines under a more integrated identity.

First Gen President Francis Giles B. Puno said the new branding aims to clarify how the company operates across its different energy businesses.

“This step is about clarity for our employees, partners, customers, and the communities we serve about who we are, what we stand for, and how we work together,” Puno said.

Under the unified structure, the company’s power generation assets – which include geothermal, solar, wind, and hydro facilities- will operate under First Gen Renewables.

Meanwhile, First Gen Energy Supply will focus on matching the group’s power generation assets with the needs of direct supply partners, wholesale supply customers, and electricity market participants.

The company also introduced First Gen Energy Solutions, which houses technologies and services designed to help customers manage their electricity consumption. These include assets such as on-site solar systems and energy monitoring tools.

Puno said the restructuring reflects changing expectations in the energy sector, where customers are increasingly focused on reliability, affordability, and support for long-term decarbonization goals.

“Expectations placed on energy companies are changing. Customers are no longer asking only where power comes from, but whether they can depend on it, is it affordable, and does it support their long-term transition goals,” Puno said.

First Gen currently operates a diversified renewable energy portfolio in the Philippines, with geothermal energy serving as a cornerstone of its operations.

In remarks during the event, Puno noted that geothermal development requires significant long-term investment due to the complexity of exploration and drilling, which often involves committing capital years before confirming viable resources.

The company has invested more than PHP 200 billion in exploration, drilling, plant development, operations, and maintenance across its geothermal portfolio and currently operates about 1,400 megawatts of geothermal capacity in the country.

How do you see geothermal power shaping the Philippines’ renewable energy future as the country works to strengthen its energy security?

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