Philippine Geothermal Powerplants

Fossil fuel is one of the most common energy sources. In 2006, it was
estimated that 79% of worldwide total energy consumption is fossil fuel (Chen,
2011). It can be further categorized as coal, crude oil, natural gas, and nuclear
fuel. Moreover, generating energy from fossil fuel is classified as Nonrenewable
Energy. In relation to this, the price of these non-renewable energy sources will
increase as these sources deplete. Demirel (2016) said that as the nonrenewable
energy rise, the demand renewable energy will increase as well.
Geothermal energy is one of the different types of renewable energy.
According to United States Department of Energy (USDE), harnessing
geothermal energy is more efficient than using coal as the energy source. They
also pointed geothermal energy source is almost unlimited since it can be
harnessed continuously for the whole year. In relation to this, geothermal energy
is described as the heat generated from Earth. Moreover, it is estimated that
internal heat of the Earth, which is expected to maintain its very high
temperature for billions of years, can produce power approximately 42 million
megawatts (Bates et al., 2009). Furthermore, the current annual generation
capacity growth of geothermal power plant is 3 to 4 % which is identifiable as
directly related to economic growth (Montague, 2016).
Geothermal energy has been part of human civilization for thousands of
years. According to Nersesian (2010), geothermal energy was used to heat water
for baths by the Maoris from New Zealand, Native Americans, ancient Greeks
and Romans, and Japanese. It was also used by others as medicinal elements.
However, it is until 1827 when Larderello, Italy developed the first deep
geothermal energy source. Then, the geothermal electricity production was first
available in 1904 in the same town. However, it can only produce electricity for
five light bulbs (Quick et al., 2010).
As of 2015, Philippines ranks second from the countries with the most
abundant geothermal power operating capacity next to the United States (Matek,
2016). The Philippines is situated in the Ring of Fire. In relation to this, this ring
holds the most active geothermal activities (National Energy Education
Development, 2017). This ring consists of plates and active volcanoes that often
erupts. Moreover, the Philippine plate is one of the most active (National
Geographic Society, 2015).
The exploration of geothermal areas was initiated by Commission on
Volcanology in 1962 (Malixi, 1982). This government research agency is now
Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS). The research
started in Tiwi, Albay and was further stretched in Laguna, Leyte, and Southern
Negros (Malixi, 1982). Currently, there are seven operating geothermal power
plants in the country.
The first geothermal power plant was Tiwi Geothermal Power Plant. This
power plant was completely built in 1982. It has six units with a total a design
capacity of 330 MWe. Chevron and Aboitiz Power Renewable Inc. (AboitizPower)
co-operates this plant. On the other hand, AboitizPower also manages the
Makiling-Banahaw (Mak-Ban) Geothermal Power Plant. It has ten units was
completely built in 1982. Mac-Ban Power Plant has the second largest a design
capacity of 442.8 MWe. In relation to this, both first units of each power plant
were built in 1979. Moreover, it is also originally operated by Power Sector Assets
and Liabilities Management (PSALM) Corporation until May 2009. PSALM is a
government-owned and controlled institution.
The Leyte Geothermal Power Plant has the largest a design capacity of
700.9 MWe in the country. The first unit was built in 1983 and the power plant
was completed in 1997. It is currently operated by Energy Development
Corporation (EDC). EDC manages three power plants in the country in total. The
second is Negros (Palinpinon) Geothermal Power Plant. It is in Valencia, Negros
Oriental and was completely built in 1995. It has two units and a total a design
capacity of 192.5 MWe. The first unit was built in 1993. Moreover, EDC also
operates Northern Negros Geothermal Power Plant in Bago City, Northern
Negros. It only has one unit built in 2007 which has a design capacity of 49.37
MWe.
Bacon-Manito (BacMan) Geothermal Power Plant is situated in Pocdol
volcanic range in Bacon, Sorsogon. It has 4 units with a design capacity of 150
MWe. Its first unit was built in 1993 and the last was built in 1997. Bac-Man
Geothermal Inc. manages this power plant.
Mindanao Geothermal Power Plant is managed by Marubeni Energy
Services Corporation. It has 3 units with a design capacity of 106 MWe. The first
unit was built in 1997.
There are three types of facilities for electrical generation; binary, dry
steam, and flash steam (Bates et al., 2009).
Flash power plant is the most common type of power plant, it has a cooling
system and characterized by the production of a mixture of water and steam
from the wells. While in a dry steam power plant, the steam is directly used to
run the turbine for electricity generation because the wells are designed to
produce only steam. Lastly, in a binary process, the water is used to heat liquid
with low boiling points such as isobutene. This process is used to transfer the
heat energy from the geothermal fluid to the working fluid. Then the working
fluid is vaporized and used to turn the turbines for electricity generation (Bates
et al., 2009).
One example of general geothermal power plant process can be found in
Makiling-Banahaw Geothermal Power Plant (MGPP) as explained by Kimberly
Terbio, Corporate Social Responsibility Specialist of Cleanergy Center,
AboitizPower. The process starts with the harnessing of geothermal steam from
the production well located underground in the form of two-phase fluid:
steam(gas) and hot brine(liquid). The fluids are separated with the hot brine
normally reinjected back in the ground through hot injection brine, however, hot
brine undergoes the binary process in MGPP for the additional electric
generation. Then, the steam is purified through a secondary scrubber to protect
the system from internal abrasion due to scratches from solid particles of
unpurified steam. Philippine Geothermal Production Company (PGPC) Inc. is
responsible for the purification of the steam. AboitizPower will buy the purified
steam to power their turbine.
The next step of geothermal power process is the steam go through the
turbine that is connected to a generator to produce electricity. Every generator
produces around 12.3 kV of electricity. It is collected into a step-up transformer
to meet 230 kV. The electricity is bought by National Power Grid Corporation
(NPGC) and distributes the electricity to consumers. The excess steam from the
previous process is cooled into a condenser and cooling tower. The cooled liquid
form of the steam will be reinjected to the ground through cool injection brine.
The geothermal power plants are covered by the policies set by the
Philippine Clean Air Act, Republic Act 8749, that applies to all emissions
including from those renewable sources such as geothermal energy. Emissions
should meet the standards set for each pollutant, may it be criteria or non-
criteria pollutant (Bates et al., 2009). Since geothermal power plants do not burn
fossil fuels, the emissions from these plants are very few in terms of
concentration. There are several emissions from these plants that may
contribute to pollution if not properly managed.
Geothermal power plant can produce different air pollutants: nitrogen
oxides, sulfur dioxides particulate matter, carbon dioxide, and mercury. In RA
8749, sulfur dioxide emissions are limited to 150g/GMW-Hr for power plants
built before January 01, 1995, and 250g/GMW-Hr for power plants built after.
There are several emissions from these plants that may contribute to
pollution if not properly managed. First, nitrogen oxides are released in a very
small amount and sometimes no release at all. They are usually produced from
the combustion of hydrogen sulfide.
Hydrogen sulfide is characterized by its rotten egg smell and may be lethal
in high doses. It comes naturally from volcanic gases and geothermal fluid which
are used in geothermal power plants.
Sulfur dioxide is not directly produced by geothermal power plants. It is
formed when hydrogen sulfide gas eventually transforms into sulfur dioxide and
sulfuric acid. Process improvements are now being used to minimize the
emission of hydrogen sulfide in power plants. One of these is the Stretford
process, which involves the incineration and injection, is used to maintain
hydrogen sulfide concentration below 1 ppm (Reed & Renner, 1995).
Particulate matter, in a small amount, is produced due to the evaporation
of steam condensate from the cooling tower. Geothermal power plants are only
responsible for a very small concentration of particulate matter because most
coal and oil plants produce the majority of particulate matter. Water-cooled
geothermal power plants emit particulate matter in small amounts during the
evaporation of the steam condensate from the cooling tower. (Bates et al., 2009)
Carbon dioxide is a non-condensable gas released into the atmosphere
when geothermal steam is condensed through a turbine.
Mercury may or may not be present in geothermal power plant depending
on the technology used in the plant.
And lastly, the total organic gases (TOGs) and reactive organic gases
(ROGs) which include methane, propane, and ethane are considered
insignificant releases from geothermal power plants.
Generally, geothermal power plants produce small amounts of air
pollutants. For the MGPP, the focus of the air quality management is the
production of non-condensable gas, Hydrogen Sulfide. Hydrogen Sulfide is
dispersed from the cooling tower, to lessen the concentration released into the
atmosphere. This method minimizes the negative impacts and complies with the
standards set by the DENR. On the other hand, MGPP is considered as stable
and relatively problem-free geothermal reservoir considering its performance
since its operation (Capuno et al., 2010). MGPP monitors air quality parameters;
hydrogen sulfide and noise. Both parameters are monitored and measured at
locations within the area. Since AboitizPower takeover in 2009, MGPP has been
showing conformance on the standard of 0.07 ppm set by the DENR.
DENR also issued the Administrative Order No. 2009-08 which assigned
the Makiling-Banahaw area as geothermal airshed. It ensures that the air quality
around the area has minimal air-pollutant which is in accord with RA 8749.
According to Atienza, DENR Secretary in 2009, the Administrative Order
No. 2009-08 calls for the local government units and agencies to be involved in
the supervision of the air quality within the said area. The Makiling – Banahaw
geothermal airshed was especially for the purpose of managing and supervising
the air quality management of the Makiling – Banahaw geothermal plant. By
analyzing the air quality emitted within the area, actions to mitigate these
emissions which include clean technologies and local policies can be done.
In addition, PGPC is responsible for the purification of the steam to remove
impurities before being utilized to run the turbines in the power plant. PGPC
uses scrubbers to remove impurities in the steam and meet the standard of
99.75% purity before delivering the steam to the five plants. The impurities were
analyzed in the chemistry laboratory using an ORSAT analyzer. Analysis of the
steam shows the following components: Chlorides must be less than 1 ppm,
Silica must be less than 1 ppm, Total Iron must be 1 ppm, Total Dissolved Solids
must be less than 5 ppm, Sulfate is not analyzed, and noncondensable gases
(CO2, H2S, O2, N2) must be less than 1% by weight for Plants A, B, D, and E,
and less than 2.5% by weight for Plant C. This data was given by MGPP’s
chemistry laboratory.
 An example of managing the air pollution can also be seen in MGPP. The
following information is based on the interview of Judy Torres, Pollution Control
Officer of Cleanergy Center, AboitizPower. She explained that their company uses
the Continuous and Discrete Ambient Monitoring System. Continuous Ambient
Monitoring System monitors the air around all the time. Discrete monitoring is
completed ones a month outside the power plant, especially on residential areas
and the downwind of the Makiling-Banahaw Geothermal Power Plant. This is to
ensure that the welfare of the public is not compromised.
Moreover, since the presence of pollutants depends on the location, only
hydrogen sulfide is being monitored in the power plant. An engineering control
is being done and not treatment because of the relatively small concentration of
hydrogen sulfide. The management disperses the gas from the cooling tower into
the atmosphere to lower its concentration as evident by the smell when a person
is near the cooling towers. MGPP focuses mainly on the hydrogen sulfide
emission of the plant
Although the MGPP complies with the standards of the country, other
concerns such as public safety arise since the location of the plant is in a
crowded residential area. It can be seen the steam pipes are laid out in the
residential area. This poses health impacts to the residents and may be affected
by the foul odor caused by hydrogen sulfide.
Generally, geothermal power plants emit very few air pollutants due to
their source compared to those that burn fossil fuels. The overall purpose of the
geothermal power plants is to minimize the associated environmental impacts
when burning fuels. Only trace amounts of emissions are found in geothermal
power plants. Some people mistake that these plants release smoke during their
operations wherein they only see water vapor emissions produced from
evaporative cooling systems (Bates et al., 2009).
When types of geothermal power plants are compared, flash and dry-steam
power plants are responsible for 5% of carbon dioxide and small amount of
oxides while binary plants almost emit no air pollutants (Matek, 2016)
Technology that applies partial re-injection of gases with the geothermal
fluids is one strategy to consider and if it is not feasible, venting of mercury and
hydrogen sulfide can be done considering the potential impact to the ambient
concentration that will not pose negative impacts to human health and
environment (Geothermal Power Generation, 2007).
The use of abatement systems to minimize the emission of mercury and
hydrogen sulfide is also recommended. Wet or dry scrubber systems can be used
to control the emission of hydrogen sulfide while gas stream condensation and
adsorption can be used for mercury emission control (Geothermal Power
Generation, 2007).
References
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