Tiwi Geothermal Power Plant
{{Short description|Geothermal power station in Tiwi, Albay, Philippines}}
{{use mdy dates|date=April 2023}}
{{Infobox power station
| name = Tiwi Geothermal Power Plant
| name_official =
| image = File:Mount Malinao.jpg
| image_caption =
| country = Philippines
| location = Albay, Philippines
| coordinates = {{coord|13|27|56.5|N|123|38|58.1|E|type:landmark_region:PH|display=title,inline}}
| status = O
| construction_began =
| commissioned = 1979
| decommissioned =
| cost =
| owner = AP Renewables
| operator = AP Renewables
| employees =
| geo_type = Flash steam (existing) / Binary cycle (planned)
| geo_temp_requirement =
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| geo_water_output =
| ps_site_area =
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| ps_cooling_towers =
| ps_feed-in_tariff =
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| ps_combined_cycle =
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| ps_thermal_capacity =
| ps_units_operational = 4 units{{cite web |title=List of Existing Power Plants (Grid-connected) as of December 2021 |url=https://www.doe.gov.ph/sites/default/files/pdf/announcements/electric_power_plants_01_luzon_grid_connected_december_2021.pdf?withshield=1 |publisher=Department of Energy |access-date=9 April 2023}}
| ps_units_manu_model =
| ps_units_planned = 1 unit
| ps_units_cancelled =
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| ps_electrical_capacity = 234 MW
| ps_electrical_cap_fac =
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}}
The Tiwi Geothermal Power Plant is a 234-MW geothermal power station in Tiwi, Albay, Philippines.
History
File:Tiwi Geothermal Plant ca. 1970.jpg
The Commission on Volcanology conducted an exploration of the Tiwi geothermal field from 1964 to 1968.{{cite web |title=Tiwi |url=https://sites.google.com/a/ngaphil.org/www/services/tiwi |publisher=National Geothermal Association of the Philippines |access-date=9 April 2023}}
The Philippine government in early 1971 invited the Union Oil Company of California (Unocal) to form the Philippine Geothermal, Inc. (PGI) which is intended as a joint venture for the exploration and development of geothermal energy. A service contract was made with the state-owned National Power Corporation (NPC) on September 10, 1971.
PGI contributed technical knowledge as well as a portion of the Tiwi field's exploration and development. NPC would construct and run the geothermal power stations. The first two units were put into service in 1979. Units 3 through 6 would be operational from 1980 to 1982.
The geothermal field would then be acquired by Aboitiz Power in 2009.{{cite news |last1=Gatdula |first1=Donnabelle |title=Aboitiz group bags Tiwi-Makban power complex with $447-M bid |url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/07/30/08/aboitiz-group-bags-tiwi-makban-power-complex-447-m-bid |access-date=9 April 2023 |work=ABS-CBN News |date=31 July 2008}}{{cite news |last1=Gatdula |first1=Donnabelle |title=Aboitiz Power pays full P12.12 billion for Tiwi-Makban |url=https://www.philstar.com/business/2009/10/02/509966/aboitiz-power-pays-full-p1212-billion-tiwi-makban |access-date=9 April 2023 |work=The Philippine Star |date=2 October 2009}} The company would own and operate the plant under its subsidiary AP Renewables.{{cite news |last1=Macapagal |first1=Jed |title=Powering up communities for cleaner, better future |url=https://malaya.com.ph/news_special_feature/powering-up-communities-for-cleaner-better-future/ |access-date=9 April 2023 |work=Malaya Business Insights |date=29 January 2023}}
In January 2023, a new binary cycle power plant within the Tiwi Geothermal Power Plant broke ground. It will add 17-MW capacity to the existing geothermal complex.{{cite news |title=AboitizPower expects 17 MW more from Tiwi geothermal |url=https://www.bworldonline.com/corporate/2023/01/18/499140/aboitizpower-expects-17-mw-more-from-tiwi-geothermal/ |access-date=9 April 2023 |work=BusinessWorld |date=17 January 2023}}
Facilities
The Tiwi Geothermal Field is divided into four geographical areas: Naglagbong, Kapipihan, Matalibong, and Bariis. At one point it had six units and a 330-MW capacity.{{Cite web |url=http://www.jica.go.jp/english/operations/evaluation/oda_loan/post/2009/pdf/philippines04.pdf |title=Tiwi Geothermal Power Plant Complex Rehabilitation Project |access-date=24 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308022544/http://www.jica.go.jp/english/operations/evaluation/oda_loan/post/2009/pdf/philippines04.pdf |archive-date=8 March 2012 |url-status=live }}
As of December 2021, the Tiwi geothermal facility has four units and a capacity of 234-MW.