Cebu’s First Wind Farm by 2014
Philippines - A 200-megawatt (MW) wind farm will soon rise in Cebu. The Mudajaya Group of Malaysia has already signed a partnership agreement with local players for a 160-million dollar project, to put up a wind farm within Cebu City, Balamban and Toledo City in Cebu.
Bangui Wind Farm, Ilocos Norte, Philippines
The build is set to start between April to July of next year, they will start with a 50-MW capacity wind farm, this will then be expanded up to 200-MW capacity wind mills. The wind farm will be built on an 18,000-hectare leased lot within Cebu City, Balamban and Toledo City.
The Amihan Energy project is composed of the Filipino firms Amihan Energy Corp. (owning 30 percent), Visayan Wind Energy Holdings Corps (owning 30 percent), and the Mudajaya Berhad of Malaysia (owning 40 percent).
“We are proposing to put up at least 200 MW of generating capacity…We hope to start with 50 MW and the indicative investment is $160 million,” said Anto Joseph, group managing director and CEO of Mudajaya Group Bhd.
This will be the first wind power project in Cebu, but is targeted to soon be one of the largest integrated wind farms in the Southeast Asian region.
“Our intention is to make this as one of the largest integrated wind farms in the Southeast Asian region,” Joseph said.
The country should look at more of these projects, as more power output is needed to support the fast-paced economic growth of the Philippines, tapping on renewable energy source is vital. It doesn’t only save energy cost, it also lowers carbon (CO2) emission.
Future Plans
Biomass and Solar Power projects - the partnerships are looking to put up other renewable energy sources in the vicinity to increase output up to 400-MW (depending on energy demand).
The project is a good indication that the feed-in tariff (FIT) scheme is working. The CEO of Mudajaya Group said himself;
“Amihan wind energy project aims to take advantage of the feed-in tariff (FIT) scheme”, Joseph said
The FIT scheme aims to attract environment friendly projects, it guarantees investments of renewable energy firms through fixed rates that would be shouldered by consumers over 20 years. Financial viability of renewable power projects are crucial for energy firms to secure bank financing.
To date, the Philippines sources only 35 percent of its total power need from renewable energy sources.
Wind Power in the Philippines
This Cebu wind farm will add to a very few list of wind power in the country;
- Bangui Wind Farm in Bangui,
- Ilocos Norte Wind Farm in Illocos Norte,
- Wind Energy Power System (WEPS) in Puerto Galera, Mindoro Oriental, and the
- 50-MW Wind Power, Expected In Pulupandan (also by 2015)
source: philstar
