MANILA, Philippines - The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has given half a million dollars to the Department of Energy (DOE) for a renewable energy resource program.
The funds will be used to update the data on the country’s potential for wind energy projects that will hopefully entice investors, a DOE official said.
“What they want to do is to help us in crafting our wind energy roadmap, which we have but we have to update,” DOE Undersecretary Jose Layug Jr. said.
The ADB provided a total of $2-million funding for the three-year program that will be divided equally between Mongolia, Sri Lanka, Vietnam and the Philippines.
Layug said the ADB aims to build government capacity in conducting pre-feasibility studies and economic analysis of wind power projects.
Fresh data will be used to attract more investors, Layug said.
A study of the US Department of Energy way back in 2009 said the Philippines has the potential to produce 76,000 megawatts (MW) through wind energy in different areas of the country.
These projects can be implemented in Northern Luzon and Eastern basin provinces like Mindoro, Panay, Negros and Palawan.
Given limited funds of $500,000, Layug said the DOE will collect three wind mass data in the country.
Layug said the DOE has chosen Cagayan, Camarines Norte and Aklan for the wind resource assessment.
The three areas, which are known for strong winds, are hosts to several service contracts for wind projects.
To date, the $50-million, 33-MW Northwind Power Development Corp. in Bangui Bay in Ilocos North is the only major wind farm project in the Philippines.
Another project, the P6-billion, 48-MW Wind Energy Power System in Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro is under construction.
“The proposal of the ADB is to place data in an academic institution and they will manage it,” Layug said.
These institutions include the University of the Philippines and the Ateneo de Manila University.
Meanwhile, the European Union (EU) is also helping the country’s push for more renewable energy projects.
“They want to promote the development of renewable energy in mini grids, in small islands,” Layug said.