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Manila Bulletin devider Business devider AC Energy to build biggest PH wind farm

AC Energy to build biggest PH wind farm

Published May 20, 2021 04:21 pm

Ayala-led AC Energy Corporation is making headway on its goal to become a leading player in the renewable energy (RE) space, as it advanced into construction phase its 160-megawatt Balaoi & Caunayan wind farm project in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte; flourishing as the biggest installation on that technology sphere in the country upon its completion.

The project, which will be AC Energy’s another joint venture with foreign partner UPC Renewables, will command an investment of P11.4 billion and will be due for completion in the fourth quarter of 2022 and is set for commercial operations in the first quarter of 2023.

The facility will utilize 32 of the latest wind turbines to be supplied by European firm Siemens Gamesa. Each turbine has a capacity of 5.0 megawatts.

The Balaoi & Caunayan wind farm venture will be AC Energy’s third project in Ilocos Norte – the first ones had been Northwind facility in Bangui; and the Northern Luzon Renewables project that is also sited in Pagudpud.

As noted by Jose Maria P. Zabaleta, chief development officer of AC Energy, this new project has been igniting excitement of their part as this “will be the largest and lowest cost renewable energy producer in the country.”

The largest wind farm in the country to-date has 150MWcapacity -- and the facility is also sited in Ilocos Norte; although it was undertaken by a different developer.

Zabaleta added “this project will further augment AC Energy’s generating capacity, following our recently completed solar farms and battery storage plants, and will contribute to the growth of our renewables’ share as we scale up our sustainable investments.”

AC Energy is already looking forward to beefing up its aggregate capacity to more than 2,000 megawatts upon the infusion of capacities from its AC Energy International platform.

David Sutton, chief executive officer of UPC Renewables, said  “the site of the Balaoi & Caunayan wind farm has one of the best wind resources in the country and its construction marks the culmination of over 10 years of development work.”

The technology deployment of SG 132 and 145 wind turbines from Siemens Gamesa, as emphasized, will “optimize the renewable energy production in the wind farm.”

The company expounded “as the wind farm takes shape to eventually provide clean energy to the grid, AC Energy also aims to spur inclusive and sustainable economic growth to its host communities in Ilocos Norte.”

Related Tags

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