AC Energy says to add 235 MW to Luzon grid

Business Mirror 
by Lenie Lectura - November 13, 2014

AYALA Corp.’s energy unit AC Energy Holdings Inc. (AC Energy) said on Thursday its completed power projects will contribute an additional 235 megawatts (MW) of generating capacity to the Luzon grid.

AC Energy, under its investee company, Northwind Power Development Corp., completed its 19-MW wind expansion project in Bangui, Ilocos Norte, on October 10.

It has since been operational and has been successfully delivering power to the grid, according to the company, adding this expansion increases Northwind’s capacity to a total of 52 MW.

Following the completion of this expansion phase, the Department of Energy (DOE) issued a Certificate of Endorsement for feed-in Tariff for Northwind’s 19-MW expansion.

Barely a month after, the Ayala-led power unit, through its affiliate North Luzon Renewable Energy Corp. (NLREC), completed another 81-MW wind farm in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte, on November 11.

This wind project, which consists of 27 turbines supplied by German manufacturer Siemens, has, likewise, since been operational.

The project is awaiting the issuance of a Certificate of Endorsement for feed-in Tariff from the DOE.

Combined, Northwind and NLREC put Ayala’s total wind-power capacity at 133 MW.

In addition to its wind projects, the company, in partnership with Trans-Asia Oil and Development Corp., is also reaching the final stages of completion of the first of two 135-MW circulating fluidized bed coal-fired power-plant units in Calaca, Batangas.

The company expects to begin commercial operations of the plant by the first quarter of 2015. The second 135-MW unit is, likewise, planned for completion and operation by the end of 2015.

“We believe the completion and operation of our two wind projects, as well as the completion of our project in Calaca, [are] very timely as these will significantly help meet the country’s immediate demand for power,” AC Energy President Eric Francia said.

Over the past three years Ayala has invested approximately $500 million in equity in developing various power-generating projects, according to Francia.

“Ayala has always recognized the need to build both base-load power and develop renewable energy sources. We continue to work on a pipeline of power projects to meet our goal of assembling around 1,000 MW in generating capacity over the next few years,” Francia added. source