Energy Development Corporation (EDC) has announced plans to undertake the development of two additional geothermal projects in the Philippines. Construction on the two plants will require an investment of over PHP20 billion. The two new geothermal projects are construction of the 100 MW Aya pumped-storage project in Nueva Ecija and the 20 MW Tanawon geothermal power plant in Bicol.
Unlike ordinary lithium-ion battery systems, which have a maximum discharge of three hours, the Aya project will be able to provide eight to twelve hours of grid assistance. Meanwhile, the Tanawon geothermal power plant in Bicol will be expanded over the next four years as part of the Bacon-Manito (BacMan) geothermal power plant in the Bicol area. The Bicol projects will employ radial outflow turbines, a new technology that will increase the efficiency of geothermal power generation.
The firm currently also has two ongoing geothermal projects. These include the 29 MW Palayan binary plant in Bicol and the 3.6 MW Mindanao 3 binary plant. EDC accounts for 62 per cent of power generation from geothermal energy in Indonesia.