Energy firms explore commercial biomass production in PHL

Australia-based Geopower Energy Ltd. and two local energy firms made commitments to assess the opportunities in a biomass fuel facility in the Philippines. Philippine Stock Exchange listed Trans-Asia Oil and Energy Development Corp. said the trio has identified sites for possible “commercialization of energy generated by waste heat resources" in the country. Thor Energy Ph Inc. is the third peg in the venture. Prospective locations include industrial smelters, cement plants, glass factories, power stations and geothermal fields. On its website, Geopower said it targets “projects that use biogas or recovered waste heat from industry, two forms of energy generation that are deemed low-risk, yet have the ability to generate superior returns." Geopower also said its “Organic Rankine Cycle technology permits renewable energy generation from recovered waste heat resources… and has been developed and fully commercialized in the United States." The Australian energy developer claimed its waste heat recovery technology does not produce emissions and has 1500 megawatts installed worldwide. Geopower also said its power generation system is modular, can be built in three to six months, and readied for commissioning in one month. It boasted that their system has “a distinct advantage over steam-driven cycles that can take upwards of three years to construct." — ELR/VS, GMA News