Quezon Power (Philippines) Ltd. Co. looks to begin co-firing its 460-megawatt (MW) coal-fired power plant in Mauban, Quezon with ammonia by the end of the year, according to the Department of Energy (DOE).
In a report from the Manila Standard, DOE Undersecretary Rowena Guevara stated that Quezon Power aims to conduct a 20% co-firing experiment in the later part of the year.
In January, an MOU was established between Quezon Power, Electricity Generating Public Company Ltd. of Thailand, and Doosan Enerbility Co. Ltd to study the feasibility of ammonia co-fired power generation at the Quezon power plant.
The MOU aligns with EGCO Group’s strategic goal to reduce its carbon dioxide emission intensity by 10% by 2030.
EGCO Group’s business direction, which focuses on “Cleaner, Smarter, and Stronger to Drive Sustainable Growth,” aims to promote long-term sustainable growth for its businesses in the region, including Quezon Power. The ultimate goal of EGCO Group is to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
However, the Power for People Coalition and local stakeholders have voiced opposition to ammonia co-fired generation at the coal plant, arguing that it would perpetuate high electricity costs and pollution from the facility.
Convenor of P4P, Gerry Arances, expressed concerns that retrofitting the plant for ammonia co-firing would incur additional costs and promote continued reliance on coal, making energy unaffordable for consumers.
