Perez-led Alternergy bags 6 wind power projects

MANILA, Philippines - Alternergy Philippines Holdings Corp. (APHC) has signed six service contracts with the Department of Energy (DOE) for its proposed wind projects worth an estimated $85 million.

With a $14.1-million project cost each, the wind power facilities will be put up in Pilillia, Rizal; Kalayaan, Laguna; Abra de Ilog, Occidental Mindoro; Sta.Ana, Cagayan: Sta Praxedes and Cagayan and Pagudpod, Ilocos; and Aparri, Cagayan.

Two of the wind farm projects will run on 40 megawatts (MW) capacity while the capacities of the other four have yet to be determined.

The wind power projects of APHC, headed by former Energy Secretary Vincent Perez, form part of the over $300 million worth of wind power service contracts that were signed by the DOE recently.

Perez is a staunch supporter of renewable energy use and actively participated in the passage of the law in Congress.

After his stint in the Energy Department, Perez formed Alternergy, a renewable energy company for emerging Asia.

APHC aims to have strong presence in at least six countries in the Asia Pacific Rim in the next five years, with more than 500 megawatts in generating capacity from wind, small hydro, biomass, biogas, geothermal and solar resources.

APHC has investments on the 33-MW Bangui Bay wind farm in Ilocos with NorthWind Power Development Corp.

In September this year, APHC entered into a joint venture with Eurus Energy Japan Corp. and Korea East West Power Co. (EWP) to develop renewable energy projects in the Philippines. Both companies will invest a total of $100 million into the company.

EWP is a subsidiary of Korea Electric Power Corp. (Kepco) while Eurus Energy is a subsidiary of Eurus Energy Holdings Corp. of Japan which, in itself, is owned by Tokyo Electric Power Co., Inc. and Toyota Tsusho Corp.

EWP has prior experience in energy generation as it owns six power plants in Korea generating 9,500 MW.

Eurus Energy Holdings, meanwhile, owns and operates wind and solar renewable energy power plants worldwide.