The Department of Energy said Thursday it issued 40 offshore wind service contracts with a potential capacity of 30,000 megawatts.
“We have issued the offshore wind service contracts to about 20 offshore wind developers, and this involves around 40 offshore wind contracts with an equivalent of about 30 GW of potential capacity, only for offshore wind,” Energy assistant secretary Mylene Capongcol said.
Capongcol said the agency was studying the cost per megawatt of developing offshore wind projects, as it is a new technology for the Philippines.
“We cannot quote the other experiences or costings in other countries like the UK, [or] even the European Union because their offshore wind [industry] is already mature, so it is cheaper,” she said.
“We will still determine because we have different frameworks because we are purely private sector-driven,” Capongcol said.
Capongcol said the fixed-foundation offshore wind turbines have different costs compared to floating turbines.
Among the awarded offshore wind contracts are the 2,000-MW Northern Luzon Offshore WPP of PetroGreen Energy Corp. in Ilocos Norte, the 1,600-MW Ilocos Norte Claveria Offshore WPP of Domhain Earth Corp., the 500-MW Bagay Bay Offshore WPP of Earth Sol Power Corp. and the 600-MW Aurora Offshore WPP of Barracuda Energy Corp.
The DOE also granted contracts to the 1,024-MW Calatagan Offshore WPP of Giga Ace 7 Inc., the 495-MW Cavite Offshore WPP of Vind Energy Corp., the 1,000-MW Calavite Passage Offshore WPP of Pililla AVPC Corp. and the 1,200-MW Bulalacao Bay Offshore WPP of CleanTech Global Renewables Inc.
Other approved projects are Domhain Earth’s 1,400-MW Calatagan Offshore WPP, Earth Sol’s 593-MW San Lorenzo Bank Offshore WPP, the 300-MW GS1 Offshore WPP of Vind Energy Corp., 500-MW Negros Offshore WPP of WPD Philippines Inc., the 500-MW East Panay Offshore WPP of PetroGreen Energy, the 510-MW Oton Bank Offshore WPP of Earth Sol and the 1,000-MW Iloilo-Guimaras Offshore WPP of Energy Development Corp.
The World Bank Group earlier identified potential offshore wind development zones in Northwest Luzon, Manila Bay area, Northern Mindoro, Southern Mindoro, Guimaras Straight and Negros/Panay West.
JWB Energy Practice manager for East Asia and Pacific Region Jie Tang said the Philippines has 178,000 MW of technical offshore wind potential.
“Our analysis of the high-growth scenario suggests that offshore wind power could create thousands of jobs by 2040, as well as provide billions in local gross value added to the economy in the Philippines,” said Tang.
World Bank country director for Brunei, Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand Ndiamé Diop said the Philippine waters have conditions that are well-suited to offshore wind.
“This abundant, indigenous energy resource offers an opportunity for the Philippines to boost energy security, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and increase renewable energy supply,” Diop said.
