Binga
The Binga power plant is currently in operation and undergoing upgrade.
The plant
Binga is built immediately downstream of the Ambuklao hydropower plant and of the Binga Dam. The plant was commissioned in 1960 with a capacity of 100 MW. The 107 m high rock fill dam with an inclined clay core creates an 87 MCM reservoir. The water conduit consists of an intake tower, an 850 m long and 6 m in diameter wide headrace tunnel equipped with a surgical tank and a 2 km long and 6 m in diameter wide tailrace tunnel equipped with surge chamber.
Operation
The Binga plant is currently in operation, and is undergoing upgrade. The reservoir of Binga is silted. Usable storage capacity is about 13 MCM – corresponding to about 10 operating days at 5 peak hours. The electricity generated at Binga, about 350 GWh annually, is traded at the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market. To maximize revenues from the plant, the output is traded mainly during peak hours.
Development
The new intake will be completed by 4th quarter of 2011. All major power components will either be replaced or go through a major overhaul. The overhaul and upgrade period will last for 3-4 years replacing 1 turbine a year during the dry season. The upgrading of the first unit (Unit No. 4) will be completed by November 2011. The fully overhauled and upgraded plant will have 4 turbines of 30MW each with a combined average annual production of about 419GWh.
Sustainable development
SN Aboitiz Power has established a Corporate Social Responsibility fund to enable strategic development projects in all Binga’s host communities. The Fund focuses on supporting self-sustainable and long term projects within Environmental Management, Eco-tourism, Healthcare, Education and Social Infrastructure. Watershed management programs are currently being implemented to help protect the forests and other areas within the impact area of the plant. Binga already provides employment and revenues to the local community.
The Binga upgrade has been approved and registered to generate carbon credits under the UN`s Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). Through generation of renewable energy, Binga will replace some of the Philippines`s thermal power production and the UN confirms the project will reduce global CO2 emissions by an estimated 20 000 tonnes annually. The CDM approval and registration was a decisive factor for the realisation of the project.