EDC seeks to link 3.6-MW geothermal plant to Mindanao power grid

By Alena Mae S. Flores – July 20, 2021 at 08:10 pm
from manilastandard.net

Energy Development Corp. is seeking the approval of the Energy Regulatory Commission to develop, own and operate dedicated point-to-point limited facilities to connect the Mindanao 3 (M3 Binary) Geothermal Power Project to the Mindanao Grid.

EDC said in a filing to the ERC that given the urgent need for additional capacity by 2022 as projected by the Department of Energy, the completion of the 3.6-MW M3 Binary Geothermal Power Project would be critical to ensure additional capacity for the Mindanao grid. The ERC set the hearings for EDC’s application in August.

The company plans to connect the M3 Binary Project to the Mindanao Grid and construct a one-kilometer 69-kilovolt transmission line. It will also include other related facilities and a switchyard that will connect the plant directly to the Kidapawan Substation of National Grid Corp. of the Philippines.

“EDC respectfully prays that the honorable commission provisionally authorize the development, ownership, and operation of the connection asset considering that the power demand projected by the DOE warrants the issuance of a provisional authority,” it said.
EDC said the cost for constructing and developing the connection asset would be about P245 million.

The company expects to complete the construction of the connection asset in the fourth quarter and intends to have the asset in place and ready for the commissioning of the M3 Binary geothermal power project is scheduled to happen in the first quarter of 2022.

EDC is the largest producer of geothermal energy in the Philippines and the third largest in the world.