Energy dep’t clears country’s first offshore wind energy projects

THE PHILIPPINES will soon be powered by new wind energy sources, as the Department of Energy has awarded a contract to develop the country’s first offshore wind energy projects.

On Sunday, the Triconti Windkraft Group of Companies, a group of Filipino, Swiss and German companies focused on developing wind energy sources in the Philippines, said it had secured an exclusive service contract to develop the country’s pioneering renewable energy projects.

The Guimaras Strait and Aparri Bay projects have a combined potential output of 1,200 megawatts (MW) or 1.2 gigawatts (GW).

The two wind ventures, according to Triconti Windkraft Group President Lila Rosenberger, “showcase excellent, consistent wind speeds and are very accessible from the foreshore in terms of grid connectivity and maintenance.”

“With the quickly evolving wind turbine and off-shore technology, it is quite realistic to expect that these projects can bring more than 1.2 GW of much needed clean and affordable power into the market,” she added.

“With its scale and efficiencies, we believe that it offers a cost-competitive and greener alternative to conventional fuel power plants,” said Stefan Simon, a group partner and the managing director of Switzerland-based Stream Invest Holding AG.

Currently, Triconti Windkraft Group has 1.7 GW of onshore wind energy projects around Luzon and the Visayas, including its first project in Nabas, Aklan set to go online by 2022. —