Buhawind Energy Northern Luzon Corporation (BENLC) has received the Facilities Study (FS) approval from the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) for its 2,000 MW Northern Luzon Offshore Wind Power Project (NLOSWPP), a key milestone for the project’s eventual integration into the national grid.

The FS approval, granted on July 24, 2025, defines technical requirements for connecting the project to the grid, including substation components, control systems, and transformer configurations. The NGCP-designated connection point is the upcoming 500 kV Burgos Substation in Ilocos Norte, which must be completed before the project can be energized.

BENLC is a joint venture between Yuchengco-led PetroGreen Energy Corporation (PGEC), the renewable energy arm of PetroEnergy Resources Corporation (PERC), and Danish firm Copenhagen Energy.

“We thank NGCP for the approval of the FS which was filed last June following NGCP’s approval of the amended System Impact Study in April 2025,” said PGEC Vice President for Technical Operations Paul Elmer C. Morala. “NGCP’s meticulous study and evaluation of the grid connection requirements put BENLC in a stronger position to design and deliver power infrastructure that not only meets the highest technical standards but also contributes meaningfully to the Department of Energy’s agenda of increasing the country’s power supply and accelerating our transition to clean energy.”

Morala also urged the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) to give “similar skillful efforts and thorough assessment” for the development of Port Currimao, which could support not only BENLC’s offshore wind operations but also ten other projects in the northern Philippines.

BENLC has begun laying the groundwork for an offshore wind-ready workforce in Ilocos Norte. On June 11, PGEC Vice President for Corporate Communications Vanessa Peralta met with officials of Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU), led by President Dr. Virgilio Julius P. Manzano, Jr., to discuss training and development initiatives.

The discussion covered skills gap mapping, micro-credentialing, upskilling, and potential cross-enrollment programs between MMSU and BENLC’s partner school, Mapúa University. The parties agreed to convene Ilocos Norte stakeholders to coordinate and consolidate ongoing workforce development efforts.

What does this development mean for the future of offshore wind development and grid readiness in Northern Luzon?

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