The Philippines' Energy Regulatory Commission has awarded a Certificate of Compliance to Unit 1 of the 31.45-MW Binga hydroelectric plant.
The certificate is good for five years and applies only to Binga's new Unit 1 turbine, which replaces a former 25-MW unit.
The Binga hydropower plant -- located in Benguet Province -- is a joint venture between SN Aboitz Power-Benguet, SN Power of Norway and AboitzPower.
The facility has been undergoing a refurbishment and upgrade program since 2010 that will eventually see the construction of a new intake and headrace, modernization of the control system, and an upgrade of each of Binga's four turbine units.
Unit 4 was completed in December 2011, with Unit 1 completed in July. The remaining units are expected to be completed before the end of 2013.
HydroWorld.com reported in June 2011 that the Binga project had been registered by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change under its Clean Development Mechanism.
