2 new 50-MW wind farms coming to South Luzon

More companies are taking interest in harnessing nonconventional sources of energy, with two firms getting a head start on the development of new wind energy projects in Southern Luzon.

In separate statements, Basic Energy Corp. (BSC) and Alternergy Holdings Corp. said they have begun the assessment of wind resources with the installation of meteorological masts.

BSC is constructing a 50-megawatt (MW) wind power project on a 4,860-square meter land in Mabini Peninsula, Batangas.The project, being undertaken by BSC unit Mabini Energy Corp. (MEC), is expected to operate by 2027.

“A one-week functional test of the meteorological mast was undertaken to ensure the mast will perform according to its design intent during the period of wind resource assessment which shall verify the wind characteristics of the area for a potential wind power farm,” the company said.

“A favorable one-year period of assessment campaign will lead to the micro siting process to determine the wind turbine locations as well as its design,” it added.

The Department of Energy has awarded a wind energy service contract to MEC, giving it the right to explore, develop, finance and operate a wind power plant facility for a period of 25 years, inclusive of the five-year predevelopment stage.

Alabat Island

Alternergy, for its part, is undertaking the wind project on Alabat Island in Quezon province, with a proposed capacity of up to 50 MW, situated on Luzon’s eastern seaboard.

Alternergy chief technical director Knud Hedeager said the 80-meter tall meteorological mast would validate the strength and capacity of wind resource in the area in the next two years. This is in line with the company’s plans to harness the northeast monsoon “amihan” wind along the country’s eastern seaboard.

“The Alabat Island is strategically chosen as a project site for our Alabat Wind Power Project. By developing a wind project in a site that bravely faces the ever-prevailing “amihan” northeast monsoon from the Pacific Ocean, Alternergy aims to turn a natural resource into a reliable source of clean energy,” said Alternergy chair Vicente Perez Jr.

The planned wind facility forms part of Alternergy’s goal of developing up to 1,370 MW of additional wind, offshore wind, solar and run-of-river hydro projects in the next five years.