A diversifying firm subsidiary of Uy-led Phoenix Petroleum Philippines Inc. has kicked off pilot deployment of its gas-fired generating sets (gensets) to provide the electricity requirements of Balesin Island in Quezon province.
The company said it is undertaking the venture via its subsidiary Phoenix Pilipinas Gas and Power Inc. (PPGPI) in a tie-up with US firm Mesa Natural Gas Solutions LLC.
“With Balesin’s gradual return to full operations from the current community quarantine measures, the pilot run will effectively provide cleaner power to the entire island resort,” the company said.
From that pioneering installation of propane-rich liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) power facility at Balesin island, Phoenix Petroleum President Henry Albert Fadullon indicated that the forward goal of the company is: “to ultimately replicate such solutions later on in industries that are generating and using their own power.”
Key customer-targets, he said, are companies and entities engaged in manufacturing, hospitality and leisure, construction, telecommunications and mining.
As Fadullon emphasized, “the gensets can run on LPG – not only a cleaner source, but also a viable component in the energy mix of the country, which we aim to help diversify.”
The company added “once the country is ready to receive LPG, PPGPI sees a large market for the gensets among independent power producers and electric cooperatives seeking more viable onsite energy solutions.”
PPGPI’s tie-up with the Wyoming-based Mesa Natural Gas was sealed late last year. Following that, three US-manufactured genset units had already been delivered to the country this June.
The capacities of the initial gensets have been at maximum 350 kilowatts each – and these were the units that have been subsequently deployed to Balesin island.
The company emphasized that the introduction of the gas-powered gensets will reinforce its thrust “to expand the LPG market in the Philippines and contribute to a more diversified energy mix.”
Phoenix explained “the gensets can run on different types of fuel. Aside from propane-rich LPG, they can be powered using natural gas, LNG (liquefied natural gas), compressed gas and wellhead gas.”
It qualified that in this technology deployment, “LPG is positioned as a transition fuel to bring cleaner and more efficient fuel such as LNG, making this type of gensets a viable alternative to coal, diesel and bunker fuel-fed power generation units.”
Parallel to its target markets, Phoenix Petroleum also disclosed that it firmed up a conversion deal with GDR taxi, to turn its fleets in Iloilo City into auto-LPG powered vehicles.
Phoenix further qualified that when this energy technology is utilized in partnership with business-to-business (B2B) customers, “the genset units will not only bring down greenhouse gas emissions but will provide security and consistent supply of power to off-grid users.”