Cagayan taps wind power to help ease climate change

MANILA, Philippines - The construction of a 40-megawatt (MW) wind power system in Aparri, Cagayan by 2011 will go a long way in easing climate change by using clean and renewable energy, Jack Enrile, economic and development consultant of his father, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, and Cagayan province, said yesterday.

“It reflects a growing global trend towards clean energy from small and independent power producers,” he said, noting it will be the first venture of pioneering Northwind Power Development Corp. outside of Ilocos Norte where it operates the 33-MW wind farm in Bangui town.

The only commercial wind farm in the country, the Bangui windmill facility sells its power generation to the Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative and supplies nearly half of the province’s power needs.

It is considered a small independent power producer because it accounts for a mere 0.33 percent of the Luzon power grid and just 0.25 percent of the national grids.

Talks have started with the Cagayan Electric Cooperative for a possible power-supply agreement with the Aparri wind farm which will be bigger than that in Bangui.

“Among renewables, wind power is so attractive because it has a low generation cost and does not produce carbon dioxide that contributes to global warming,” Enrile pointed out. “Wind is also the most abundant for renewable energy technology to tap, with about a 7,400-megawatt potential in the country.”

“With the Aparri wind mills, the Philippines will also maintain its position of having the largest wind-generating farms in Southeast Asia,” he added.

“It is fitting for Cagayan Valley, one of Northwind’s priority areas for expansion, because we already have the world-class Port Irene international freight and shipping yard in Aparri which is near the international airport in Lallo,” he said.

“The airport is strategically placed just 45 minutes by jet from Kaoshiung, Taiwan’s industrial and shipping giant,” Enrile added. “Aparri is practically next door to Sta. Ana where the Cagayan Special Economic Zone is located, complete with fiber-optic, wireless global connections, cyber industrial parks and business process call centers.”

The Aparri wind farm, which will cost from $60 million to $80 million to build, will be operated by Northpoint Wind Power Corp.