Init sa Tag-lamig: Geothermal Energy Development

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Going for No. 1 in geothermal energy
Posted: 5:08 PM Jun. 26, 2005 by Gil Francis G. Arevalo, Inquirer News Service
Published on Page B3-1 of the June 27, 2005 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer

BACON, Sorsogon-Three to five years from now, the Philippines is seen becoming the world's biggest producer of geothermal energy.

From a current geothermal capacity of 1,500 megawatts (MW), the country hopes to eventually generate 5,000 MW of electricity from geothermal energy.

This would make the country account for more than half of the world's total geothermal energy production of 7,297 MW, according to Liberato Virata, newly appointed resident manager of the Philippine National Oil Company-Energy Development Corp. (PNOC-EDC) Bacon-Manito geothermal plant here.

Virata tells the Inquirer that the country needs to generate 500 MW to 700 MW more from geothermal energy to take the number 1 spot away from United States. The US currently produces more than 2,000 megawatts from geothermal energy.

"Right now the Philippines is the second largest producer of the said energy for electricity in the world. This is the very reason why the PNOC-EDC is very much determined to further develop all explored geothermal areas all over the country in order for us to further maximize the whole percentage of potential geothermal energy. It can be noted that only about 25 percent of total megawatts capacity at present are being harnessed," he says.

Among those geothermal areas that have been continuously developed are some areas in Bac-Man, northern Negros geothermal field in Negros Occidental with a capacity of at least 40 MW or more, Cabalian in Southern Leyte with 110 MW and Mt. Labo in Camarines Norte with a potential 120 MW.

"All of these can be developed in the next three to five years, and then by that time, the Philippines could be already the number one," Virata says.

He further discloses that in Bac-Man alone, the PNOC-EDC was enthusiastic about harnessing 100-150 MW of power in Tanawon, Sorsogon and Tayabon, Manito.

But he admits that to tap these areas, they need investors or at least loans from banks that continue to support PNOC's cause.

The Tanawon project is projected to generate 40-70 MW, which approximately costs P5.2 billion, while the Tayabon is said to have enough geothermal reserves to generate 30-60 MW of electricity.

"Based on our recent assessment, Bac-Man as one of the consistent and promising PNOC-EDC own geothermal projects in the country that can generate up to 300-350 MW at most. But at this point in time we need to rehabilitate some of the power plants of Napocor here, which will take from six months to one year to begin the exploration for potential commercially viable energy resource," he adds.

The Bac-Man geothermal reservation area was established through the Presidential Proclamation No. 2036-A issued in November 1980. It includes part of the municipalities of Sorsogon, Bacon and Castilla in Sorsogon province and Manito in Albay province.

PNOC operates the steam field and supplies steam to the 150 MW power plants of Napocor that are connected to the Luzon grid. Its operation began in 1977.

In 1994, the on-line continuous steam purity monitoring system was perfected in Bac-Man.
And in 1998, the silica deposition inhibitor geogard SX was developed and used commercially in Bac-Man, the only successful silica inhibitor in use in the world.

The Department of Energy has once again stressed that geothermal energy was the future of the country's energy resources.

Aside from being cheap, it appears sustainable because of the reservoir and environmental management programs that are implemented to ensure the sustainability of the geothermal field for the benefit of the present and coming generations.

The country has eight geothermal fields that have been operating since 1979.

These include geothermal plants developed by PNOC-EDC such as the Tongonan geothermal plant in Leyte (112.5 MW), Palinginon in Negros Occidental (112.5 MW), Kidapawan in Cotabato (with 110 MW), Leyte-A with 202 MW for the Cebu grid and another 440 MW for the Luzon grid, and also those being developed by the Philippine Geothermal Inc. such as Tiwi in Albay (with 330 MW) and Makban in Laguna (with 425.7 MW).

In a statement, the PNOC-EDC said it would like to pattern the operations of different potential geothermal energy sources in the country after the successful geothermal operations in Lardello, Italy for, since its pioneering operation in 1904, its geothermal field is still operating and is a favorite tourist attraction.

"Technically and scientifically speaking the life-span of geothermal energy in the country is about 25-50 years. But we really hope that this could be sustainable even up to 100 or more years. For, aside from the royalties to be paid among the stakeholders, it's proven that most of the geothermal plants managed by PNOC-EDC have proven to be very helpful in any social and community livelihood projects and reforestation of trees and other concern areas."

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