FDC Utilities To Triple Power Generation Capacity By 2033 With Focus On Renewables

FDC Utilities, Inc. (FDCUI), a wholly owned subsidiary of Filinvest Development Corporation (FDC), has announced plans to significantly increase its generating capacity from the current 411 megawatts (MW) to 1,350 MW by 2033. Notably, 71% of this expansion will be driven by renewable energy sources.

This ambitious plan aligns with the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Power Development Plan (2023-2050), which anticipates a 5.5% annual growth in peak demand until 2030. It also supports the national government’s objective to boost the share of renewable energy in the country’s energy mix.

FDCUI President and CEO Juan Eugenio Roxas emphasized the company’s commitment to enhancing energy security and resilience. “We are dedicated to ensuring a stable energy supply for both immediate and future needs. Our efforts will support the country’s economic growth and improve its resilience against unexpected energy supply disruptions,” Roxas said.

Roxas acknowledged that while thermal power remains a crucial part of the current energy mix, renewable energy is the future. “We are aligning with the DOE’s strategy to increase our renewable energy projects,” he added.

Currently, FDCUI is working on its first major solar power initiative within the PHIVIDEC Industrial Estate in Misamis Oriental. The 20 MW Misamis Solar Power Project, with an investment of over half a billion pesos, is expected to contribute 30,450 megawatt-hours of clean energy to the grid annually.

Additionally, Filinvest’s Cotabato Sugar Central Co., Inc. (CSCCI) has launched a 3.4 MW biomass power project in North Cotabato. Upcoming projects include 15 MW of combined commercial and industrial solar projects in Cebu and Laguna and an 11 MW solar project in Cotabato, slated for completion by 2025 and 2026.

FDC Renewables Corporation recently received a Green Lane Certificate of Endorsement from the Philippine Board of Investments (BOI) for its 33.4 MW Pampang Hydroelectric Power Project in Nueva Vizcaya and Pangasinan. This endorsement aims to expedite the project’s development.

In response to the growing energy demand and to prevent potential power shortages, FDCUI is also advancing a 135 MW baseload capacity expansion project in Misamis Oriental, which was approved by the DOE in 2019.

FDCUI has partnered with Northeast Electric Power Engineering Corp. (NEPC) to execute these new renewable and baseload projects. The company’s existing plants utilize Circulating Fluidized Bed (CFB) boiler technology, known for its reliability and efficiency, while significantly reducing carbon emissions.

Through these initiatives, FDCUI is contributing to the strengthening of the country’s energy security and promoting the adoption of renewable energy sources, aligning with the broader goals of sustainability and economic growth.