DENR okays wind power plant project

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the designated national authority (DNA) for clean development mechanism (CDM) in the Philippines, issued recently the country’s first letter of approval to the NorthWind Power Development Corp. for its 33-megawatt wind turbine power plant in Bangui Bay, Ilocos Norte.

The NorthWind Bangui Bay project is the first commercial wind power project in the entire ASEAN region. It is also the first of its kind to be connected to the Philippine main grid.

Likewise, it will be the first CDM project activity in the country once it gets officially registered by the CDM executive board (EB) under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). 

As one of the flexible mechanisms agreed upon by the parties to the Kyoto Protocol and the UNFCCC, the CDM is recognized as an important vehicle for international cooperation to meet the objectives of complying with the quantified greenhouse gas emissions reduction commitments of developed countries, and contributing to the sustainable development goals of developing nations that host climate-friendly project activities.

The NorthWind Bangui Bay Project is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 51,855 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2-e) annually for the first seven-year period from 2008-2012. This renewable energy project also serves to facilitate energy independence and fuel the nation’s economy to higher growth while protecting the country’s ecological integrity.

In another development, the DENR opened last Jan. 19 a so-called CDM Helpdesk under the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB.

The helpdesk primarily aims to make CDM work in the country by providing timely and personalized assistance at an enriched level of detail appropriate to the national development priorities and specific conditions of the State.

Project developers, potential investors and the interested public may visit the CDM Helpdesk which is provisionally located at the DENR Annex Building, DENR Compound, Visayas Avenue, Quezon City with telephone numbers 920-2251 and 929-6626 ext 2109 and telefax number 928-4674.