DMCI Power to build wind power plant on Semirara Island
MANILA, Philippines — DMCI Power Corp. announced Monday it would build a wind power plant in Semirara Island in Antique, where the company is also looking to develop solar energy to augment supply in the island that is home to the country’s biggest coal reserve.
The power unit of the Consunji family’s conglomerate intends to finalize the wind power capacity in the coming months, with projections ranging from 8 to 12 MW and operational implementation expected within 12 to 15 months, according to a regulatory filing Monday.
The project will be funded and undertaken independently by the company.
DMCI Power said the wind corridors between Luzon and Panay — including Semirara Island and extending to the Cuyo Islands — were found to have good-to-excellent wind power density and speed for utility-scale or village power applications.
That said, the company is in the process of validating these wind resource estimates to determine the final location and capacity of its wind project.
Antonino Gatdula Jr., company president, said DMCI Power is also looking at building a solar energy plant on Semirara.
He said though that wind power is the priority at the moment because it has “shown the most promise” based on a US-backed study in 2001, which found that Semirara Island has some of the best wind resources in the Philippines.
“Current studies suggest that wind power could potentially deliver a 33% plant utilization rate, compared to just 17% for solar,” Gatdula explained.
“Capital expenditure per megawatt for both wind and solar projects are also roughly the same,” he added.
- Latest
