Phesi Puerto Galera wind project gets green light

Philippine Hybrid Energy Systems Inc. (Phesi) is set to proceed with the first phase (16 MW) of the wind project in Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro.

Phesi was the first to secure a certificate of commerciality for a wind project in the off grid area, allowing it to push through with the project.

The company has started construction, which is expected to take 18 months to complete, president and COO Nicanor Villasenor III told reporters yesterday.

The project is expected to be completed early 2015, 10 months ahead of the December 2015 previous target date.

“This project will complement the predominantly diesel power supply in Oriental Mindoro, which is seeing exponential economic grown,” Villasenor said.

The wind project is covered by Wind Energy Service Contract No. 2011-03-045, the first wind service contract awarded under the term of President Aquino.

It is also the first company to be granted a COC to a project located in the missionary area “not covered by the feed-in tariff.”

On Sept. 12, Phesi received a confirmation of commerciality (No. WCC-2013-08-006) by DOE for the wind project.

Phesi is a company of CMC (Asia Inc.) in partnership with Berkeley Energy.

“CMC (Asia), a leader and pioneer in the Philippines since 1979 in renewable energy, is participating in the overall electrification program and development of other wind and mini-hydro projects not only in the province of Mindoro to address its growing energy needs but also in the Asian region,” he said.

Berkeley Energy manages the Renewable Energy Asia Fund that invests in renewable energy assets in developing markets.