PetroEnergy’s 50-MW wind farm in Aklan found technically viable

MANILA, Philippines—Danish engineering firm Cowi Inc. has confirmed the technical viability of PetroEnergy Resources Corp.’s planned 50-megawatt wind farm in Nabas, Aklan.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, PetroEnergy said this was based on the results of an initial micrositing sudy and annual energy production estimate made by its consultant. At present, the company is still undertaking a detailed geodetic survey for civil works and construction planning purposes.

A recently completed environmental impact study will, meanwhile, be filed shortly with the Region 4 office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, to obtain the proposed wind power project’s environmental compliance certificate (ECC).

“Assuming a viable feed-in-tariff is granted by the Energy Regulatory Commission, PetroGreen Energy Corp. (a wholly owned subsidiary of PetroEnergy) plans to commission the project by mid 2014 or earlier,” PetroEnergy added.

In a related development, PetroEnergy also disclosed that the Department of Energy (DoE) has already approved the assignment of its wind energy service contract covering the Nabas site to its renewable energy arm, PetroGreen.

The DoE also approved a final one-year extension of the pre-development stage for the Nabas service contract, to allow PetroEnergy to continue the conduct of technical feasibility studies in the area until Sept. 13, 2012.

Earlier this month, PetroEnergy Resources has voluntarily relinquished its other wind energy service contract in Sual, Pangasinan, as studies showed the available resources to be “insufficient to support commercial operations.” Initial measurements yielded promising results but later failed to meet the criteria that would have allowed PetroEnergy to build the Sual wind power plant.

The contract relinquishment for Sual was already approved by the DoE last October.