Northwind to complete soon Ilocos 25-MW project

BANGUI BAY, Ilocos Norte — Northwind Power Development Corp. (NPDC) will complete the expansion of its 25 megawatt wind farm project by August this year, a company official said.

In a briefing on the wind farm project to Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes, NPDC chairman Ferdinand Dumlao said they have completed the groundwork for the expansion and will be ready to install the wind turbines soon.

The additional capacity that will be generated from the expansion to 33 mw will be sold to the Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative (INEC).

The current capacity of NPDC is supplying 40 percent of the power requirement of the the province’s 108,000 households.

Dumlao said they are giving a seven percent discount to INEC which is also being passed on to its end-consumers.

Reyes, for his part, said the Department of Energy (DOE) welcomes the project of NPDC.

“We would like to commend NPDC for promoting the use of renewable energy in the Philippines by developing wind power technology,” he said.

At the same time, he also encouraged NPDC to undertake more expansion projects.

The government is projecting to harness some 200 mw from wind energy sources in the next 15 years.  This level is expected to increase to 400 mw in the next 20 years.

Dumlao said they are eyeing a slice of the projected wind farm development capacity “depending on the availability of funds” that the company will source from lenders.

He said they are being supported by Japanese, Danish, Spanish investors and creditors.

“We hope we can tap more funds so we can expand more in this province,” he said.

Dumlao said wind power development business is “good” as the company is able to service its debts and pay up its loans during the past three years of its operation.

“I can say that we are financially healthy.  This is why we are encouraging other investors to join us in developing wind farm projects,” he said.

Dumlao said the passage of the renewable energy bill will also help in enticing investors to pour in funds for these capital-intensive projects.

“The provision in the RE bill that will allow investors to enjoy incentives will help promote wind energy development,” he said.

The creation of a one-stop-shop, he said, would also facilitate the entry of more investors into this business.

NPDC director and former Energy Secretary Vincent Perez said the country’s wind power potential is huge.