Alternergy drops ‘unfeasible’ wind project in Occidental Mindoro

MANILA  -Alternergy Holdings Corp., the renewable energy firm of former Energy Secretary Vicente Perez Jr., has shelved a planned wind project in Occidental Mindoro, citing “technical issues” that would make the development “unfeasible.”

The company said its board of directors had approved to surrender the wind energy service contract (WESC) covering Calavite Passage to the Department of Energy.

The Calavite Passage project was among four offshore wind projects that underwent technical studies led by Alternergy and Shell Overseas Investment BV in the past year to assess the viability of target areas and to determine the potential capacity of the facilities.

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The studies found the other three projects were suitable for development on Tablas Strait, the body of water that separates Mindoro from the islands of Panay and Romblon.

Alternergy said it had identified “several technical issues” that could make the development of the Calavite Passage project “unfeasible at this given time given the available technical innovations and market conditions.”

The company did not elaborate, saying only the development of the three other Tablas Strait projects would be “further explored.”

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Alternergy was awarded a WESC for the Calavite Passage project in 2022, allowing the renewable energy firm to explore a site with total marine area of 78,408 hectares.