ADB, Japan to fund studies on wind farms

Sunstar Manila

THE Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Japanese government said they will shell out US$630,000 to fund feasibility studies of possible wind power facilities in three areas in Luzon.

The bank said the move was made to help the Philippines reduce its dependence on coal and oil-fired power, and neutralize greenhouse emissions.

“Energy plays a vital role in economic growth and poverty reduction and ADB is playing a prominent role in helping countries like the Philippines,” said Joe Yamagata, deputy director general of ADB’s private sector operations department.

The Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC) said the country’s energy production is heavily dependent on coal, diesel and natural gas which comprise 64.7 percent of the power generation mix.

Combined renewable sources such as hydro, geothermal, wind and solar power is only 35.3 percent of the mix, or a 29.4 percent difference.

Under the technical assistance grant from the Asian Clean Energy Fund, the preparatory work will include wind assessments, annual energy production estimates, assessment of environmental impacts and social acceptability, assessment of wind energy related issues, and an evaluation of transmission connection issues.

In 2008, the government approved a new energy roadmap in which it set a target of doubling the installed generating capacity from renewable energy to 5,300 megawatts by 2030.

The development of wind power however slackened due to the high cost of feasibility assessments and of developing and constructing plants.

To date, the Philippines has only one wind power facility at the Northwind Bangui Bay Power Plant in northern Luzon.

“Nevertheless, the potential for harnessing wind remains high as the country of more than 7,100 islands is situated on the fringes of the Asia-Pacific monsoonal belt,” the bank said.

The energy department granted leading renewable power company, Alternergy Philippine Holdings Corporation (Alternergy), to develop wind power facilities in several locations with a combined capacity of up to 150 MW

“We welcome the technical assistance from ADB which will allow Alternergy to assess additional prospective wind sites in Luzon,” said Knud Hedeager, executive vice president of Alternergy.

The Asian Clean Energy Fund is one of three funds under the Clean Energy Financing Partnership Facility which was established in 2007 to help improve energy security in ADB’s developing member countries, and to decrease the rate of climate change. (Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)