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Science
Quarter 3 - Module 4:
Week 4
Energy from Volcanoes
for Human Use (Part II)

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 Lesson Geothermal Energy from
Volcanoes
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Hello there our young scientist! Welcome to the fourth module of this
quarter. Before moving forward, please be guided with what’s waiting for you
ahead!

WHAT I NEED TO KNOW

Learning Competency:
Illustrate how energy from volcanoes may be tapped for human use
(S9ES-IIIc-d-29).

In the previous module, you learned that heat in the interior part of the earth
can be tapped for human use through harnessing geothermal energy in power plants.
You also learned that geothermal energy is very sustainable and does no harm in our
environment.
At the end of this module, you will be expected to:
A. Identify the different types of geothermal power plants;
B. Trace the development of harnessing geothermal energy in the Philippines.
C. Suggest ways on how to address the challenges encountered in developing
geothermal energy in the Philippines.

Before you start, answer the following pre-assessment first.

WHAT I KNOW
Direction: Choose the letter of the correct answer. Write your answer on a separate
sheet of paper.
1. What do we call the process of producing energy by utilizing heat trapped
inside the earth’s surface?
A. geothermal energy C. solar energy
B. hydropower energy D. wind energy

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2. Geothermal energy is generated by places which have several ____________
A. active volcanoes C. strong winds
B. earthquakes D. waterfalls
3. How many types of geothermal power plants are there?
A. four C. two
B. three D. one
4. The following are types of geothermal power plants EXCEPT
A. binary cycle C. flash steam
B. dry steam D. geo-moderator power plant
5. Which country ranks 3rd in harnessing geothermal energy?
A. Australia C. Philippines
B. Indonesia D. United States
6. Which process uses moderate temperature water to heat up another liquid?
A. binary cycle C. flash cycle
B. dry steam D. geo-moderator power plant

7. Which is TRUE of geothermal power plants?

A. produce no smoke C. cause major earthquakes
B. disrupt ecosystem D. take up a lot of space
8. Which kind of geothermal power plant is the most common?
A. binary cycle C. flash cycle
B. dry steam D. geo-moderator power plant
9. Which is the oldest type of geothermal power plant?
A. binary cycle C. flash cycle
B. dry steam D. geo-moderator power plant

10. The Philippines has rich source of geothermal energy because ___________
A. it has a rich biodiversity
B. it is an archipelagic country
C. the country is surrounded by bodies of water
D. the country is located in the Pacific Ring of Fire which has a lot of
active volcanoes

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11. The following places in the Philippines are using geothermal power plants in
generating electricity EXCEPT
A. Albay C. Negros Oriental
B. Bohol D. Sorsogon
12. Can the island of Cebu establish its own geothermal power plant? Why or
Why not?
A. No, because it is very expensive.
B. No, because it has no active volcanoes.
C. Yes, because it has enough manpower.
D. Yes, since its neighboring islands have geothermal power plants.
13. Where was the first geothermal power plant in the Philippines established?
A. Albay C. Leyte
B. Davao D. Negros
14. What is the largest geothermal power plant in the Philippines?
A. Malitbog Geothermal Power Plant
B. Nasulo Geothermal Power Plant
C. Tiwi Geothermal Power Plant
D. Tongonan Geothermal Power Plant
15. How many major geothermal power plants are there in the Philippines?
A. five C. seven
B. nine D. ten

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 WHAT’S IN
Study the graphic organizer below and answer the guide question.

ATMOSPHERIC
COOLING

LAND GEOTHERMAL
FORMATION ENERGY

VOLCANOES

FERTILE RAW
LAND MATERIALS

WATER
PRODUCTION

Figure 1: Six Ways Volcanoes Benefit the Environment

Source: https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/6-ways-volcanoes-benefit-earth-our-environment/348155

Guide Question:
1. Which among the cited ways can benefit the community in the economic
aspect? Explain your answer.
__________________________________________________________

The presence of volcanoes in a particular place can really give a positive impact
in the economy such as tapping its heat for geothermal energy.
Want to know more about geothermal power plants and its development in our
country? Read further in the next sections of this module.

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 WHAT’S NEW
TYPES OF GEOTHERMAL POWER PLANTS
Source: https://ww2.energy.ca.gov/almanac/renewables_data/geothermal/types.html

DRY STEAM POWER PLANT

Steam plants use hydrothermal fluids
that are primarily steam. The steam goes
directly to a turbine, which drives a generator
that produces electricity. The steam
eliminates the need to burn fossil fuels to run
the turbine. (Also eliminating the need to
transport and store fuels!)

This is the oldest type of geothermal

power plant. It was first used at Lardarello in
Italy in 1904. Steam technology is used today
at The Geysers in northern California, the world's largest single source of geothermal
electricity. These plants emit only excess steam and very minor amounts of gases.

FLASH STEAM POWER PLANT

Hydrothermal fluids above 182°C

can be used in flash plants to make
electricity.

Fluid is sprayed into a tank held at a

much lower pressure than the fluid, causing
some of the fluid to rapidly vaporize, or
"flash." The vapor then drives a turbine,
which drives a generator.

If any liquid remains in the tank, it can be flashed again in a second tank (double
flash) to extract even more energy.

BINARY CYCLE POWER PLANT

Most geothermal areas contain moderate-temperature water (below 204°C).

Energy is extracted from these fluids in binary-cycle power plants.

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 Hot geothermal fluid and a secondary (hence, "binary") fluid with a much lower
boiling point than water pass through a heat exchanger. Heat from the geothermal
fluid causes the secondary fluid to flash to vapor, which then drives the turbines.

Because this is a closed-loop system, virtually nothing is emitted to the

atmosphere. Moderate-temperature water is by far the more common geothermal
resource, and most geothermal power plants in the future will be binary-cycle plants.

WHAT IS IT
The Development of Geothermal Power Plants in the Philippines
Source: http://www.jogmec.go.jp/content/300199107.pdf

 The Commission on Volcanology laid the foundation for the commercial

utilization of geothermal energy between 1952 to late 1960s when it studied
and explored geothermal activities at a number of localities.
 The country harnessed its first geothermal power in 1967 after Dr. Arturo P.
Alcaraz and his team lit up an electric bulb in Tiwi, a town at the foot of Mt.
Mayon.
 Service contracts were signed in 1971 between the National Power Corporation
(NPC) and Union of California for the development of Tiwi and Makban.
 Philippine government entered into bilateral energy cooperation with New
Zealand Government that led to the commencement of exploratory drilling at
Tongonan and Palinpinon in 1973 in conjunction with NPC.
 PNOC-EDC (Philippine Oil Corporation- Exploration Development Corporation)
was created in 1976 to undertake accelerated development of indigenous
energy sources. It also assumed NPC’s interest at Tongonan and Palinpinon in
the late 1976s.
 Leyte island is where the first geothermal power plant, a 3 megawatt wellhead
unit, started operations in July 1977. Larger-scale commercial production
of geothermal power began in 1979 with the commissioning of a 110-
megawatt plant at Tiwi field in Albay province.
 The Philippines currently has seven geothermal fields which supply about 12
percent of the nation's energy, with a long-term plan to nearly double capacity
by 2040.

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  The Malitbog Geothermal Power Station is a 232.5 MW geothermal power plant
or an earth steam turbined electric generator--the world's largest geothermal
power plant under one roof located in Malitbog, Kananga, Leyte, Philippines.
The power plant is one of four operating in the Leyte Geothermal Production
Field.

WHAT’S MORE
Activity 1: Sum it Up!
A. Table Completion: Copy and complete the table by filling in the necessary
information about the different types of geothermal power plants.
TYPE DESCRIPTION

Dry Steam Power Plant

Flash Steam Power Plant

Binary Cycle Power Plant

B. Table Analysis: Study the table below and answer the questions.

Major geothermal sites in the Philippines

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renewable_energy_in_the_Philippines#Geothermal_power

Installed
Year
Facility Name Type Capacity Location Owner
Commissioned
(MW)

MAKBAN Flash/Binary 442.8 Laguna AP Renewable Inc. 1979

Bac-Man
BACMAN Flash 130.0 Sorsogon 1993
Geothermal Inc.

Tiwi Flash 234.0 Albay AP Renewable Inc. 1979

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 MANITO- Bac-Man
Flash 1.5 Albay No date
Lowland Geothermal Inc.

Maibarara
MAIBARARA Flash 20.0 Batangas 2014
Geothermal Inc.

Negros
Palinpinon GPP Flash 192.5 Green Core Energy 1983
Oriental

Leyte Flash 112.5 Leyte Green Core Energy 1983

Energy
Unified Leyte Flash 610.2 Leyte 1996/1997
Development Corp.

Negros Energy
Nasulo GPP Flash 50.0 2014
Occidental Development Corp.

North Energy
Mt. Apo Flash 103.0 1996
Cotabato Development Corp.

Questions:
1. What type of geothermal power plant is commonly used in the Philippines?

2. Which facility has the highest megawatt installed capacity?

3. Which facility(ies) is/are nearest to Cebu island?

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 WHAT I HAVE LEARNED
Express your thoughts by completing the following sentences. You can
be creative by using other figures or symbols.

One learning that I have…

One realization that I have…

One question that I have…

WHAT I CAN DO
Listed below are the challenges of geothermal power plant development
in the Philippines. Which do you think is the most difficult to handle or manage? Justify
your answer.

o Lack of geothermal technical experts who can lead the development.

o Continuous listing of geothermal resources.
o Development and utilization of geothermal energy in secluded areas.

ASSESSMENT
Write the letter of the correct answer on a separate piece of paper.
1. What do we call the process of producing energy by harnessing heat trapped
inside the earth’s surface?
A. geothermal energy C. solar energy
B. hydropower energy D. wind energy
2. Geothermal energy can be generated in some areas in the Philippines
because they have ____________
A. active volcanoes C. strong winds
B. earthquakes D. waterfalls

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3. Which of the following are the types of geothermal power plants?
A. dry steam, flash steam & binary code
B. flash steam, binary cycle & dry steam
C. wet steam, flash steam & binary cycle
D. flash steam, binary code & wet steam
4. Which of the following started the foundation for commercial utilization of
geothermal energy in the Philippines??
A. PNOC-EDC
B. National Power Corporation
C. Commission on Volcanology
D. Union Oil Company of California

5. Who led the team who first harnessed geothermal power in Tiwi, Albay?
A. Dr. Arthur P. Alcarza C. Dr. Arthur P. Alcaraz
B. Dr. Arturo P. Alcarza D. Dr. Arturo P. Alcaraz
6. Which is TRUE about the challenges in developing geothermal power plants?
A. lack of technical experts on geothermal energy
B. the concern on climate change and energy policies
C. continuous inventory of geothermal resources
D. all of the above
7. Which kind of geothermal power plant is the most common?
A. binary cycle C. flash cycle
B. dry steam D. geo-moderator power plant
8. Which is the oldest type of geothermal power plant?
A. binary cycle C. flash cycle
B. dry steam D. geo-moderator power plant

9. What does PNOC-EDC stand for?

A. Philippine Oil Corporation- Exploration Development Corporation
B. Philippine Oil Council- Enhanced Development Corporation
C. Philippine Oil Company- Exclusive Distributors Corporation
D. Philippine Oil Chamber- Extended Development Corporation

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10. Which type of geothermal power plant is the most environment-friendly
because it does not emit anything to the atmosphere?
A. binary cycle C. flash cycle
B. dry steam D. geo-moderator power plant
11. To which country did the Philippines have a bilateral energy agreement with
for the exploratory drillings in Tongonan and Palinpinon in 1973?
A. Australia C. New Zealand
B. Japan D. USA
12. When is geothermal energy available?
A. day only C. day and night
B. night only D. cannot be determined
13. Which of the following CORRECTLY describes how electricity is generated
from geothermal energy?
A. Water rises and pushes a lever.
B. Coal heats up the water that turns to steam.
C. Cold and warm water collide and force steam up.
D. Water is heated up by a heating source which turns into steam and
works the machine.
14. Why is the Philippines very rich in geothermal energy? It is _____________
A. made up of several islands.
B. a country with rich biodiversity
C. surrounded by large bodies of water
D. located along the Pacific Ring of Fire
15. Why is it important to learn about renewable energy such as geothermal
energy?
A. We’ll never use renewable energy until it’s too late.
B. The future of our lifestyle will depend on our adoption of renewable
energy.
C. It is important to learn about renewable energy as it replaces other
energy sources and becomes a significant part of our lives.
D. both B & C

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Answer Key:
What’s In
(Answers may vary)
What’s More
A. Table Completion
TYPE DESCRIPTION

Steam plants use hydrothermal fluids that are

primarily steam. The steam goes directly to a
Dry Steam Power Plant
turbine, which drives a generator that produces
electricity

Fluid is sprayed into a tank held at a much lower

pressure than the fluid, causing some of the fluid to
Flash Steam Power Plant
rapidly vaporize, or "flash." The vapor then drives a
turbine, which drives a generator

Hot geothermal fluid and a secondary (hence,

"binary") fluid with a much lower boiling point than
Binary Cycle Power Plant water pass through a heat exchanger. Heat from
the geothermal fluid causes the secondary fluid to
flash to vapor, which then drives the turbines.

B. Table Analysis
1. Flash steam power plant
2. Unified Leyte Power Plant
3. Palinpinon GPP, Leyte, Unified Leyte and Nasulo GPP facilities

References
Books:

□ Department of Education, Bureau of Secondary Education. Project Ease

Integrated Science 1, Module 12: Inside the Earth
□ Department of Education, Bureau of Secondary Education (2013). Science-
Grade 8 Learner’s Module. Vibal Publishing House, Inc.
□ McDougal Litell (2005). Science: Integrated Course 3. Houghton Miffin
Company.

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 □ Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS)- Department
of Science and Technology (DOST) (2008). School Teachers’ Seminar-
Training on Natural Hazards Awareness and Preparedness: Focus on
Earthquakes and Volcanoes (Training Module).
□ Tarbuck, E.J. et al. (2009). Earth Science 12th ed. Pearson Education Suth Asia
Pte. Ltd.

Internet Sources:
□ https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/6-ways-volcanoes-benefit-
earth-our-environment/348155
□ https://ww2.energy.ca.gov/almanac/renewables_data/geothermal/types.html
□ http://www.jogmec.go.jp/content/300199107.pdf
□ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renewable_energy_in_the_Philippines#Geother
mal_power

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