Mon, 30 November, 2020
Project GeoHex, funded by European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (grant agreement No 851917), is the first RTD project for the Philippines that highlights transcontinental technology transfer. The project focusses on development of advanced material with anti-scaling and anti-corrosion properties for cost-efficient and enhanced heat exchanger performance for geothermal applications.
We recently interviewed John Defensor, President of Quantum Leap, about the company and its role in the geothermal industry. “GeoHex, comes up with ideas and techniques to improve efficiency and it is verified and possibly implemented in countries like the Philippines which as a mature working geo thermal power plants”, said John as he discussed GeoHex and the benefits it can bring to the Philippines geothermal market.
Q. Can you tell us about your company and its role in the geothermal industry?
Quantum Leap is a procurement company that has been dealing with the Philippine government through various projects. It is currently collaborating with PNOC-RC on renewable energy projects. PNOC-RC is a government corporation that is promoting, developing, and implementing new and renewable energy sources in the Philippines.
The collaboration between Quantum Leap, a private company and PNOC, a government entity allows them to share resources and exchange knowledge on various renewable energy projects. Both companies are working together to promote geothermal energy as well as other forms of renewable sources of energy such as wind, solar, hydro and waste to energy generators.
Q. Philippines is one of the top 10 producers of geothermal energy. In your opinion what are the challenges for geothermal exploitation in the Philippines?
Although the Philippines is rich in geothermal energy, there are several main challenges that it has to overcome to effectively exploit this energy source:
- Reduce the cost of identifying geothermal wells.
- Making geothermal plants more efficient by using new techniques and materials to harness geothermal energy, thereby producing more power for the same amount of geothermal energy harvested.
Q. GeoHex is the first RTD project for the Philippines that highlights transcontinental technology transfer for geothermal development. What contributions can projects like GeoHex make to the development of market in the Philippines?
The Philippines is rich in geothermal energy and has a lot of experience in identifying, exploring, and working with different types of geothermal wells, as well as operating actual geothermal power plants. It is a country that is one of the top producers of geothermal energy in the world.
GeoHex, in collaboration with countries like the Philippines, helps explore different possibilities and find new ways to harness geothermal energy more efficiently. GeoHex comes up with ideas and techniques to improve efficiency and it is verified and possibly implemented in countries like the Philippines, which have mature working geothermal power plants.
The results of the collaboration of all parties in the GeoHex project has the potential of making geothermal plants all over the world more efficient and produce more power for the same amount of geothermal energy currently being harvested. This brings us all closer to using more renewable energy and become less dependent on fossil fuel for energy which will, at the end of the day, benefit all of us regardless of our geographical location.
The GeoHex project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 851917