AFTER awarding close to a hundred contracts over the last two months, the Department of Energy plans to give another batch of renewable energy contracts within the week to fast-track the development of the sector.

In a phone interview, Assistant Energy Secretary Mario Marasigan said the government?s target was to award a minimum of 25 contracts by Nov. 26. He noted, however, that this figure was still preliminary since some of the applications were still being evaluated.

The final number of contracts to be awarded will be known early this week, he said.

Among the companies being evaluated for a service contract for wind included NorthPoint Wind Power Development Corp. with its proposed project in Aparri, Cagayan; First MaxPower International Corp. for three projects in Cagayan (Claveria, Sanchez Mira, Gonzaga) and one in Pulupandan, Negros Occidental, and Northern Luzon UPC Asia Corp. for a 30-MW project in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte.

The Lopez-led Energy Development Corp. has six applications for its proposed wind power projects in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte; Taytay, Palawan; Mahinog, Camiguin, and three in Surigao del Norte (Dinagat Island, Siargao Parcel 1, and Siargao Parcel 2).

However, a government source said that EDC has yet to complete the requirements for five of its applications.

For biomass, three firms are awaiting the approval from the DOE, namely Asea One Power Corp., Biscom Inc. and Hacienda Bioenergy Inc.