More wind projects eyed under FIT scheme

Business World Online
Posted on September 07, 2014 10:43:00 PM

AN ADDITIONAL 300-megawatt (MW) capacity allocation for wind projects is being eyed under the feed-in tariff (FIT) scheme, an official from the Energy department said last week.

This comes after the department decided to hike the solar project installation to 500 MW from the original 50-MW allocation.

“The Wind Energy Development Association is proposing for similar allocation for wind. So that’s an additional 300 MW from the current 200 MW,” said Director Mario C. Marasigan of the Renewable Energy Management Bureau.

“They already presented the proposal to the NREB (National Renewable Energy Board). After that, of course, the department will still evaluate it,” he added.

Wind power developers are waiting for the increased allocation under the FIT before proceeding with their projects.

Under the FIT, renewable energy (RE) developers will dispatch the capacity of their projects to the grid at a premium rate for 20 years.

Noting that increasing allocations would encourage the developers, Mr. Marasigan said that they have to be committed in bringing the project into commercial operations and “help the supply for the summer months of 2015 and 2016.”

To date, only 33 MW of more than 200-MW approved wind projects are being dispatched, he said.

“How can you increase something that is not even reached? Although the indication is that they can make the projects run, we have to achieve that first,” Mr. Marasigan said.

Wind power projects seen to be commissioned this year include Energy Development Corp.’s (EDC) 87-MW plant in Ilocos Norte; Trans-Asia Oil Renewable Energy Corp.’s 54-MW plant in Guimaras Island; and PetroGreen Energy Corp.’s 50-MW plant in Aklan. By next year, EDC will also finish a 63-MW portion of its project. -- Claire-Ann Marie C. Feliciano source