GHD is the owner's engineer for Cordillera Hydro Electric Power Company's (COHECO) 60 MW run-of-river hydro project which will generate reliable, low-cost electricity and boost socioeconomic growth in the communities of Kapangan and Kibungan in Benguet province, Philippines.
Run-of-river hydro schemes do not require reservoirs, reducing cost and complexity and minimising social and environmental impacts.
The project, in development since 2015, involves the construction of a 22-km access road, about 8 km of tunnel, powerhouse, switchyard, surge tank and 24 km of 69 kV transmission lines.
In the early stages of the project, GHD undertook an extensive hydrology study to estimate the potential annual energy output for the consideration of potential lenders. The construction of the hydroelectric power plant is estimated to take three years with GHD as owner's engineer providing technical advisory, project management, construction monitoring and supervision services.
This project is a cornerstone in increasing the region's competitiveness and reinforcing the country's commitment to increase the share of renewables in its total energy mix, with energy consumption expected to nearly double in 2040.
The project was named Hydropower Project of the Year at the Asian Power Awards 2019 in Malaysia.