The Department of Energy (DOE) has partnered with the World Bank Group (WBG) to launch the Philippine Offshore Wind Roadmap project, which intends to harness 170 gigawatts of potential offshore wind power in the country.
Funded through the WBG’s Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP), the project aims to identify areas in the Philippines with high potential for offshore wind development; establish short and long-term offshore wind targets; formulate strategies to successfully integrate offshore wind in the government’s renewable energy (RE) portfolio; and put forth recommendations on policies that are necessary to foster a conducive business environment for offshore wind investors.
The WBG commissioned United Kingdom-based RE consulting firm BVG Associates (BVGA) to explore the technical, economic, environmental, social, employment, and financing aspects of establishing an offshore wind market in the Philippines.
Energy Sec. Alfonso Cusi expressed his appreciation for the support of the WBG in helping the Philippines bolster the development and utilization of wind energy.
“As the country actively pursues the energy transition, broadening our offshore wind prospects would help fast-track meeting our goal of attaining a 35% renewable energy (RE) share in our energy mix by the year 2030. This project is another key milestone for the energy sector, as we continue to deepen our ability to harness the country’s vast RE resources,” Cusi said in a statement.
The DOE has awarded five Wind Energy Service Contracts for offshore projects, all belonging to the Windkraft Group — a Fil-European joint venture. These are the Guimaras Strait I and 600MW Guimaras Strait II Wind Projects in between Panay and Negros, the 600MW Aparri Bay Wind Power Project (WPP) in Cagayan, the 600MW San Miguel Bay WPP in the Camarines provinces, and the 450MW Frontera Bay WPP in Cavite. All except the Guimaras Strait I project have been endorsed by the DOE to the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines for system impact study this year.
A total of 179 participants joined the virtual launch which included energy industry stakeholders, RE developers, investors, wind turbine manufacturers and suppliers, as well as representatives from other government agencies and the academe.
The Philippine Offshore Wind Roadmap is among the series of offshore wind roadmap studies commissioned by the WBG under the joint ESMAP-International Finance Corporation Offshore Wind Development Program.