LAOAG CITY, Philippines – The opening of a $220-million, 81-megawatt
wind farm in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte the other day may be the answer to a
looming power crisis next year.
Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. sees the easing of the power shortage
following the inauguration of the wind farm in Barangay Caparispisan and the development
of other renewable energy facilities.
“There is no need for emergency powers because the expected power
shortage is only 31 megawatts,” Marcos said in Filipino.
The Caparispisan wind farm was inaugurated eight days after its
completion and connection to the grid.
The wind farm is the pioneer project of North Luzon Renewable
Energy Corp. (NLREC), a joint venture of Ayala Corp.’s AC Energy Holdings Inc.,
Philippine Investment Alliance for Infrastructure and the UPC Philippines Wind
Holdco.
John Eric Francia, president of AC Energy Holdings, a subsidiary
of Ayala Corp., said all 27 turbines are fully operational as of Nov. 11.
“We can produce at the full capacity of each turbine but it
depends on the wind and the grid’s condition,” he said.
Each turbine has a 3-megawatt capacity but only 1-megawatt is
currently being produced on each turbine to prevent power overloading, said a
wind farm official.
Marcos said the wind farm shows that Ilocos Norte continues to be
in the forefront of alternative energy production in the country.
“We are the only place in Southeast Asia to have a commercially
viable wind farm,” he said.
The expected output of wind farms in Ilocos Norte would contribute
greatly towards improving the power situation at least in Luzon, he added.
The Caparispisan wind farm is the third to be built in Ilocos
Norte.
The first was built by Northwind Power Development Corp. in Bangui
town and the second by Energy Development Corp. in Burgos.
Speaking at the inauguration, Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos said
the establishment of wind farms in Ilocos Norte brings clean energy, as well as
tourism and economic growth.
“Ilocos Norte is one of the most prosperous, least poor provinces
in the country,” she said. “However, Pagudpud and other northern towns continue
to lag behind and certainly the discovery and development of wind power is a
great boom.”
Francia said the Caparispisan wind farm is off-limits to the
public for now.
“As of now the area is not accessible to the public because
there is a lot of minor civil works ongoing in the area,” he said.
“We will assess in the future if it will be good from a tourism
standpoint as well, that’s something that we will have to consider, of course
there are safety and security concerns we have to adjust before making that
call.”
The Caparispisan wind farm is 72 kilometers from Laoag City and
560 kilometers from Metro Manila.
Post a Comment