The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has granted Bac-Man Geothermal Inc. (BGI) approval to develop a dedicated transmission infrastructure that will connect its 20-megawatt Tanawon geothermal power plant to the Luzon Grid. The decision, announced in a 15 January 2025, notice, aims to enhance the supply of renewable energy to consumers in the region.
The new transmission line will link BGI’s facility to the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines’ 230 kV Daraga substation in Albay. With an estimated construction cost of P637.12 million, the move is expected to improve grid stability and increase the availability of geothermal power to the Luzon power network.
BGI is a subsidiary of Energy Development Corp. (EDC), which owns and operates the 150 MW Bac-Man geothermal plant in the Bicol region. EDC has been ramping up its geothermal and renewable energy efforts as part of a broader strategy to contribute to its parent company, First Gen Corp.’s, goal of achieving a 13,000 MW low-carbon energy portfolio by 2030. Of that target, 9,000 MW is expected to come from renewable sources.
For consumers, this means more clean, reliable energy as part of the country’s ongoing push to expand its renewable energy capacity. The Philippines is already the third-largest geothermal energy producer in the world, with EDC responsible for 80% of the nation’s geothermal capacity.
As global demand for sustainable energy rises, this infrastructure development could not only stabilize electricity prices but also reduce the country’s carbon footprint, benefiting both the environment and consumers in the long run.
