DOE lauds EDC’s sustainable energy projects

By Rhaydz Barcia

LEGAZPI CITY --- For its significant contributions to the country’s clean and renewable energy sector, the First Gen–Energy Development Corporation’s (First Gen-EDC) 197.27-megawatt Bac-Man Geothermal Power Plant in Bicol was awarded the Sustainable Energy under Renewable Energy (RE) Projects in On-Grid Areas citation by the Department of Energy (DOE).

The DOE recognized the Bac-Man Geothermal Power Plant for its outstanding contributions to renewable energy development and sustainability. The award, launched by the DOE in 2024, honors initiatives by stakeholders in the renewable energy sector that contribute to the achievement of the country’s RE targets.

“This award comes at an opportune time for us at First Gen–Energy Development Corporation,” said Erwin Avante, EDC’s chief financial officer, in his message during the awarding ceremony.

“In 2026, we will be celebrating 50 years—half a century of geothermal excellence—and Bac-Man, which was commissioned in 1993, is part of that continuing legacy,” Avante added.

The Bac-Man geothermal steam field straddles Manito, Albay, and Bacon, Sorsogon, and has been supplying steam to the Bac-Man Geothermal Power Plant since its inception in 1993.

When First Gen-EDC acquired the facility from the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management (PSALM) Corp., Bac-Man was operating at zero megawatt output following the impact of a severe typhoon. Through its subsidiary Bac-Man Geothermal Inc. (BGI), First Gen-EDC undertook extensive rehabilitation and modernization efforts, successfully restoring the facility to full capacity within two years.

In 2020, as the country grappled with the COVID-19 pandemic, Super Typhoon Rolly devastated the Philippines and plunged the Bicol Region into total darkness.

During this period, BGI extended its services beyond its contractual obligation of supplying power solely to the Bicol Grid. As the lone power provider in the region, BGI’s “islanding operations” helped Bicolanos recover from the combined impacts of the super typhoon and the pandemic.

“We remain committed to providing the country with indigenous, clean, renewable, and 24/7 energy, and Bac-Man’s recent expansion projects over the last two years are a testament to this commitment,” Avante said.

In 2024, BGI launched the 28.9-MW Palayan Binary Geothermal Power Plant, and in 2025, the 22-MW Tanawon Geothermal Power Plant was inaugurated. The 20-MW/20-MWh Battery Energy Storage System has been commercially operational since September this year.

Beyond power generation, BGI integrates reforestation, watershed management, and biodiversity conservation into its operations, ensuring long-term environmental resilience while empowering local communities.

In 2024 alone, the Bac-Man Geothermal Power Plants avoided a total of 953,473 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO₂e), further complemented by First Gen-EDC’s BINHI program, which has protected over 12,000 hectares of forestland within geothermal reservations.

The Lopez-led Energy Development Corp. continues to strengthen its dominance in geothermal power with the activation of new facilities in Bicol. In 2024, EDC inaugurated the P7-billion Palayan Binary Plant project, a 28.9-MW facility that utilizes waste heat from brine produced by existing plants to generate additional power without new drilling.

In August 2025, EDC also switched on the 22-MW Tanawon Geothermal Power Plant in Sorsogon. EDC, a subsidiary of First Gen, focuses on geothermal, hydro, wind, and solar energy projects.

First Gen-owned EDC is the largest pure renewable energy company in the Philippines, operating 1,094.80 MW of geothermal, 150 MW of wind, 132 MW of hydroelectric, and 12 MW of solar power plants—for a total of 1,388.8 MW of clean and renewable energy.

Recognized as a world leader in geothermal technology, the company operates in various locations nationwide, including Bicol, Leyte, Negros Island, and Mindanao.