Wind power in Philippines: DOE has approved 44 wind energy projects with a total capacity of 921 MW

Energy Development also got the department’s nod to put up wind farms in the Luzon grid, which include 40-megawatt (MW) Balaoi-Pagudpud project and the 86 MW Burgos project in Ilocos Norte’s Barangay Saoit.

The department also approved EDC’s wind farm project in Taytay, Rizal.

Since the end of March the department has approved 44 wind energy projects with a total capacity of 921 MW.

The country’s first wind farm, the 33 MW wind farm of NorthWind Power Development Corp. is in Bangui, Ilocos Norte is the biggest wind farm in Southeast Asia to date.

Energy Development, the parent firm of First Gen Corp., is focusing on its growth in the domestic market before tackling international operations.

The 86 MW wind power project in Ilocos Norte will help determine the feasibility of other wind farms in the country, Federico Lopez, CEO of First Gen, said last week.

Energy Development has applied for $75-million loan from International Finance Corp., the World Bank’s private sector lending arm, to finance some of the company’s medium-term capital expenditures.

Energy Development is the Philippines’ largest producer of geothermal energy, accounting for 62 percent of the country’s total installed capacity. It also owns and operates the 122-MW Pantabangan-Masiway hydro-electric plants and has investments in wind energy projects in Ilocos and other provinces.

www.doe.gov.ph/

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