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DEPARTMENT OF THE ENERGY
Contact Numbers
Telephone for Administrative Matters: 632 8402278
Email: info@doe.gov.ph
Address: Energy Center, Merritt Road, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City, Philippines
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| GOALS |
Increase energy self-reliance by promoting the use of Geothermal Power, a renewable source of energy. The possibility of getting the hot steam is only in weaker parts of the crust of the earth. The Philippines is in the Western part of the Pacific Rim which is a weak belt. The geographical location is very ideal for geothermal energy utilization. Aside from that, the Philippines ranks second in the world in producing geothermal power. Based on the 2007 Power Statistics, geothermal energy contributes 17% to the power generation of the country. Knowing that this energy source is abundant in the country, it should be a bigger factor in the power generation mix. The DOE believes that tapping into geothermal energy will lead to an increase of energy self-reliance of the country.
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Plans &
Projects |
Provide more Geothermal power plants. The cost, however, of building power plants is very expensive. Yet the effect it has upon power consumption is great since the production of the electricity by geothermal plants is cheaper than the electricity produced in plants by using natural gas and coal. To solution the cost of building additional power plants, foreign investments are advised. There is a lack of awareness in the foreign investment opportunities. With only two geothermal developers namely Philippine National Oil Corporation-Energy Development Corporation (PNOC-EDC) and Philippine Geothermal Incorporated (PGI), the chance of geothermal energy becoming our main power source is narrow. With foreign investments, not only is the country sharing the burden of the capital but also the countries that we asked help for will bring modern and innovative technology regarding geothermal energy. And so the country may apply this in building power plants.
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| POSSIBLE DIFFICULTIES |
There is a lack of technology about more efficient power plants. Construction of the power plants can adversely affect land stability in the surrounding region. Specific sites may cool down after some year of operation.
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| BUDGET |
P1 billion pesos. A huge sacrifice should be made. Energy is important in nation building. The budget should be big on the development of geothermal energy because once geothermal energy has become a big factor in the power generation mix, the dependence on imported fuels lessen. This will help the Philippines save large amounts of foreign exchange which is being spent for those fuels. Aside from that, the Philippines will be self-reliant on energy. The proposed budget is for the in-depth research about the geothermal areas so that the information gathered will be detailed and comprehensive. This is important so that the information presented in the promotion of the geothermal investment opportunities will be next to perfect. And so the decisions of creating new power plants will be highly informed. This budget will also be used for the development and of geothermal fields which are the sites for the new power plants. Added to the budget cost is the land stability program since it is possible that the sites of the new power plants will experience terrain unsteadiness. Additional costs are accompanied emission controlling systems of power plants that can bring these substances thousands of feet back to the earth thereby reducing the waste that needs to be handled.
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| CURRENT STANDING |
Kyushu Electric Company is in a joint venture with PNOC-EDC to develop a 40-MW geothermal plant in Sorsogon, Albay province, and Marubeni of Japan has expressed its intent to build the 100-MW Cabalian geothermal plant in Leyte. California Energy's Philippine unit, Philippine Geothermal Incorporated, is working with PNOC to develop three new geothermal power plants in Leyte, producing a total of 540 MW of electricity. Plans are underway to develop nine new facilities in Luzon, ranging from 20 MW to 120 MW that will eventually bring a total of 440 MW of geothermal energy to the grid. The new 40-MW Mambucal and 40-MW Rangas power stations in Dauan, Negros Oriental have already began operations.
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| TIMEFRAME |
The goal of energy self-reliance is seen to be almost near. The success of the project is based on the successful gathered foreign investments. The estimated time given for the project is 10 years. The time allotted, we believe is sufficient since many heat wells have to be drilled and have to be assessed. Thankfully, the geothermal power plants are unaffected by changing weather conditions.
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| INCENTIVES |
Opportunities for tourism will arise as well from the development of these geothermal areas because DOE plans to build hot springs as well near the geothermal sites for possible resort & spa development. The lessening of the use of imported fuels will also lead to cleaner air.
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| SOURCES |
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© Year 2038
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