Wind power projects seen to secure $1-B investment

BANGUI Bay, Ilocos Norte — Some $1 billion worth of investment is expected to be raised from the proposed six wind power projects here, a Department of Energy (DOE) official said.

DOE director Mario Marasigan said the proposed onshore wind power projects are the PNOC-Energy Development Corp. (PNOC-EDC) 140 megawatt (mw) in Ilocos; UPC Asia (100 mw); Energy Logics (40-60 mw); Spanish firm in Burgos province (10-15 mw); Aklan project (10-15 mw) and Bulalacao project (40 mw).

It is estimated that it will cost about $2.5 million for every one mw of wind power.

In the next 15 years, the DOE is projecting to have additional 200  mw-400 mw capacity from wind power. 

Marasigan said that these companies are awaiting the decision of Congress on the proposed Renewable Energy Bill.

“The passage of RE Bill will encourage investors to pour in money in RE development,” he said.

RE will give incentives to investors and will also allow the shortened documentation and processing of RE projects through creation of a one-stop-shop.

“This will streamline the process and shortern the period of processing the business papers,” he said.

The Philippine is located on the board of the Asia Pacific monsoonal belt and had good potential for wind power development. 

Several studies have been conducted to assess its wind potential.

In 1994, a study conducted by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) estimated the Philippines’ wind power potential to be about 250 mw.

The United States National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) prepared a wind resource analysis and mapping study of the Philippine archipelago identifying potential wind resource areas and estimating the value of the wind resource at 76,600 mw. 

The study however did not take into consideration transmission grid accessibility constraints and other factors such as the absence or presence of access roads, usable powers and vegetative cover.