EDC eyes 90-MW geothermal expansion in Bac-Man area
EDC President and Chief Operating Officer Jerome Cainglet
Lopez-led Energy Development Corp. (EDC) plans to expand its geothermal fleet by approximately 90 megawatts (MW) over the next five to six years following the recent inauguration of its 22-MW Tanawon geothermal plant.
In an interview, EDC President and Chief Operating Officer Jerome Cainglet said a significant portion of their planned expansion could occur within the Bac-Man area, spanning Bacon, Sorsogon City, and Manito, Albay.
“Here in the Bac-Man area, [we’re seeing] maybe another 50 MW, and then another 40 MW. So, hopefully, there should be around 90 MW of geothermal capacity,” Cainglet told reporters.
He also said an “ongoing construction of a 20 megawatt-hour (MWh) battery,” referring to battery energy storage system (BESS) projects slated for this year.
While EDC aims for this near-100 MW target, Cainglet noted that securing the necessary resources alone could take at least three years. Funding for such projects is expected to reach millions of dollars, with costs estimated at “around $6 million per MW.”
The existing Bac-Man geothermal facilities include the 110 MW Bac-Man facility and the 40 MW Bac-Man 2 facility in Sorsogon.
Additionally, EDC is set to launch more geothermal projects this year, including the 28-MW Mahanagdong Binary geothermal plant in Leyte and three BESS projects in Leyte and Negros Oriental.
EDC, the renewable energy (RE) arm of First Gen Corporation, boasts an installed capacity of approximately 1,400 MW. It currently contributes around 56 percent of the Philippines' total installed geothermal capacity.