First Gen to raise Palinpinon geothermal capacity by 12%

CEBU, Philippines — Lopez-led First Gen Corp. is upgrading its Palinpinon-1 geothermal power plant in Negros Oriental, raising the facility’s installed capacity by 12 percent as the company seeks to extract more power from its existing renewable-energy assets.

The rehabilitation, being undertaken by First Gen’s geothermal unit Energy Development Corp., will replace three 37.5-megawatt turbine generators at the Valencia, Negros Oriental facility with three 42-MW units. The project will increase the plant’s capacity to 126 MW from 112.5 MW.

The new turbines are designed to generate more electricity from the same volume of geothermal steam, allowing EDC to increase output without additional steam extraction. The upgrade is also expected to extend the operating life of a facility that has been supplying electricity to the Visayas grid for more than four decades.

“This modernization project reflects our commitment to continuous innovation and environmental stewardship,” Noel Tan, head of EDC’s Southern Negros Geothermal Project, said in a statement.

The Palinpinon-1 upgrade is part of First Gen’s broader program to modernize its renewable-energy portfolio as demand for dependable, lower-carbon power grows. The company said the additional 13.5 MW will improve resource efficiency while supporting the long-term operation of the geothermal facility.

EDC operates the Southern Negros Geothermal Project, which has continued operating beyond the typical 25-year lifespan associated with geothermal steamfields. The project’s combined 222.5 MW capacity avoided more than 1.035 million metric tons of carbon-dioxide equivalent emissions in 2025, according to First Gen.

The company has more than 1,700 MW of renewable-energy capacity from 31 geothermal, hydro, wind and solar facilities across the Philippines. Geothermal accounts for more than 1,300 MW of that portfolio, with EDC operating the assets.

The Philippines is among the world’s largest geothermal power producers, with geothermal energy providing a steady source of renewable electricity that can complement more variable solar and wind generation.

First Gen, meanwhile, has been expanding its renewable-energy portfolio while offering energy solutions to commercial and industrial customers seeking to reduce emissions and manage electricity demand.