6-MW biogas plant to rise in Candelaria

First Quezon Corp. (FQBC), a cooperative fully owned by farmers in Quezon province, is building a 6-megawatt biogas power plant in Candelaria, Quezon, at an estimated cost of P1 billion.

FQBC president Albert S. Alquiros said in a briefing that the cooperative had contracted German power firm EnviTec Biogas AG of Germany and Houston Hydrotech to develop the facility.

FQBC, Envitec and Houston Hydrotech signed the engineering procurement and construction (EPC) agreement Thursday to start building the power plant in Barangay Sta. Catalina, Candelaria, Quezon.

Development is starting in the second half of this year and the facility is expected to start supplying Manila Electric Co. in the first quarter of 2016.

The biogas facility will primarily use 22,000 metric tons of chicken manure produced yearly from Quezon’s poultry farms.

Biogas will be generated from the mix of organic waste using advanced technology to be provided by EnviTec Biogas AG and engineering firm Houston Hydrotec Products & Systems Inc. The two firms will build the digesters and residue storage tanks.

Houston Hydrotec is an engineering firm that provides water-related products and services in the Philippines.

Monark Group of Companies will provide 3 x 2-MW gas engines.