Tiu-led Repower Energy Development Corporation (REDC), a subsidiary of Pure Energy Holdings Corporation, has inked memorandum of agreement (MOA) with Austrian firm Gugler Water Turbines GMBH (“Gugler”) for targeted 320-megawatt seawater pumped storage hydro projects in the Philippines.

REDC said this will be the first-of-a-kind hydropower facility installation in the domestic energy market. The planned project will located in various parts of the country, primarily Luzon.

“This partnership will bring this proprietary technology to the country, allowing REDC to be the
first energy developer to have seawater pumped storage projects in its portfolio,” the company noted in its statement to the media.

It specified that for the targeted capacity, the elevation will be “around 300 meters above sea level, and the lower reservoir will utilize the coastline for unlimited seawater intake.”

REDC President Eric Peter Y. Roxas said “we are looking to replicate Gugler’s success in a similar venture it has in South Korea, to further our ultimate goal of uplifting living standards to communities by providing clean energy.”

Within Asia, Gugler is known as the technology partner of Korea Midland Power Co., which operates the Shinseocheon seawater hydropower power facility in that energy market.

REDC is considerably a small player in the energy sector if compared to the mammoth investments already being injected by peers in the industry, but still, it is keen on pioneering seawater-anchored turbine technology in the country.

The Filipino firm has not provided specific timelines yet for the implementation of projects – including those on targeted off-take for the generated capacity if the power generating facilities will ever be concretized.

The company just apprised media that it has already “identified an area in Luzon for the development of this project,” emphasizing that it so far secured “the necessary endorsements from the LGU (local government unit) and indigenous communities so that the development of a pilot 50 MW facility can push through.”

Roxas stated that they are eyeing breakthrough when it comes to investments in the energy sector this year, citing the “ongoing construction of various run-of-the-river hydropower projects in provinces such as Bukidnon and Quezon.