Geothermal energy was the only domestic energy resource other than hydro that could be used as baseload for our power grid. Our geothermal pioneer was Dr. Arturo Alcaraz, who helped a team of geologists from PNOC EDC with the assistance of scientists from New Zealand to develop this resource from scratch.
Today, EDC, now owned by the Lopez Group, is the country’s largest geothermal producer. With 12 geothermal stations in the country, EDC is the world’s largest vertically integrated geothermal firm – i.e. full control over the wells, steam field, power plant itself, down to the selling of the power generated. EDC has installed capacity of 1,179 MW out of the over 1,900 MW we have today. Other geothermal developers include Philippine Geothermal Production Co.
“Among these sites are Batong Buhay in Kalinga, Mainit in Mt. Province, Buguias and Daclan in Benguet and Tinoc in Ifugao. PGPC of the SM Group has so far been the most active in conducting further exploration work in the Cordilleras, especially in Kalinga where it has been allowed to drill. But like oil exploration, developing geothermal is not for the faint hearted with shallow pockets. Drilling remains the single largest expense in the development of new geothermal fields. EDC plans to drill 40 new wells over the next three years with capital investments of P60 billion to sustain and expand the operations of its geothermal projects.