The Department of Energy (DOE) said three geothermal projects are under construction and expected to be online by December 2023 while two more will be online next year.
These are the 17 MW Tiwi Binary Geothermal Power Plant, 29 MW Palayan Binary Power Plant, and 2MW Biliran Geothermal Power Plant.
DOE Undersecretary Rowena Guevara said the 5.6 MW Bago Binary Geothermal Power Plant and the 20MW Tanawon Geothermal Power Plant will be online by 2024.
“There is also a total of 381 MW additional capacity from projects that are undergoing pre-feasibility studies,” she said.
She said the Philippines has to develop more geothermal projects.
Guevara said a study entitled “Geothermal Play Fairway Analysis – the Department’s New Tool for Geothermal Exploration” under the collaboration between the DOE and the Great Basin Center for Geothermal Energy funded by the U.S. Department of State presented the results of the conducted expert-driven Play Fairway Analysis (PFA) over northwest Luzon.
According to Guevara, a Play Fairway Analysis (PFA) is a resource assessment tool that uses geological, geochemical, and geophysical data which aims to reduce geothermal exploration risk and identify the most prospective areas for further exploration and development.
“The northwest sector of Luzon Island was selected as one of the most promising areas with active hydrothermal features and active tectonism. The results of the PFA highlight many of the most promising geothermal areas are located inside the already lease-granted areas, lending more confidence to the methodology and model,” she said.
