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The Philippines, being an archipelago nation, and part of what is called the “Ring of Fire” area of the world, holds potential for almost all kinds of renewable energy. The nation is most notably known however, for their geothermal and hydroelectric energy projects, as well as having a positive startup investment in wind energy.
But while other types of renewable energy are still inching their way along in the Philippines’ total renewable energy shares, another big push for wind energy is yet again set to take place in the country. (Here is the official plan for the new construction of three new wind farms.)
The official statement covering the construction of the wind farms was made last May 20, 2013. According to the report, the total energy capacity of the three wind farms is rated at 208 megawatts, which means that the combined power of these wind farms could power around 40,000 average homes. Construction of the wind farms is to commence as soon as possible, and they are scheduled to be ready and operational by 2015.
The first wind farm is to be set up and constructed in Burgos, a town some 320 km north of Manila. The total energy capacity of this wind farm is rated at 87 megawatts, making it the largest of the three, with the estimated cost for the entire project at $300 million. Supervision of the project’s construction will be held by Energy Development Corp. The second wind farm has a 67.5-megawatt energy capacity, and will be set up by Alternergy Wind One Corp. and Trans-Asia Oil. The third wind farm has a rated energy capacity of 54 megawatts, and would again be set up by Energy Development Corp. There are no details revealed about the cost of the two other wind farm projects.
Each of the wind farm projects will benefit from an incentive scheme, which aims to provide wind companies with a fixed kilowatt-hour rate of 8.53 PHP (0.2 USD), rather than a constantly changing amount (due to energy intermittency). The incentive itself is under a new national renewable energy initiative, which holds the objective of increasing the country’s renewable energy shares from 39% to 50% by the year 2030.
Last 2008, the Philippines enacted a renewable energy law, which was intended to drive interest in the investment of various renewable energy sources, most notably in wind and solar energy. Even before then, the Philippines have already invested in wind energy, with the construction of the Bangui Wind Farm in Ilocos Norte last 2005.
