EDC plans 15MW boost, extends life of geothermal assets

Energy Development Corp. (EDC), a subsidiary of First Gen Corp., is preparing a multi-year rehabilitation program for its geothermal power plants, starting with the Tongonan facility in Leyte.

Asian Power reported that EDC has engaged an international engineering firm with geothermal expertise to assist in the design and planning process.

According to EDC facility head Art Troyo, the company is in the data-gathering phase and expects to finalize design and cost estimates within six months.

Troyo said construction and equipment replacement will take two to three years once designs are completed.

He added that EDC is evaluating new technologies such as electrical submersible pumps for aging wells and modular binary plants to expand capacity.

“These are still in the planning stage, but since they are already used abroad, we hope to replicate similar success,” Troyo said, noting Tongonan could gain 10 to 15 megawatts (MW).

EDC has already upgraded Tongonan in recent years by replacing turbines and generator rotors while shifting to near full automation.

“Operations now focus on optimising and monitoring the plant, with less manual adjustment,” Troyo said.

The company also plans to replace nine cooling towers with designs resilient to typhoons and earthquakes, extending Tongonan’s operational life to at least 2046.

EDC is implementing similar modernization efforts across other assets, including a three-to-five-year rehabilitation of the 180 MW Mahanagdong facilities.

The Upper Mahiao plant is slated for full replacement that could raise its output from 130 MW to at least 200 MW with new geothermal wells.

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