DoE, WB work on offshore wind roadmap project
By Jordeene B. Lagare | The Manila Times | June 23, 2021
The Department of Energy (DoE) is working on a World Bank Group (WBG)-backed project to discover offshore wind resources in the Philippines.
PHOTO: 4COFFSHORE.COM
Dubbed the Philippine Offshore Wind Roadmap, this initiative aims to identify areas 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 global financial institution commissioned BVG Associates to explore the technical, economic, environmental, social, employment and financing aspects of establishing an offshore wind market in the Philippines.
Citing early estimates, WBG Offshore Wind Development Program co-lead Mark Leybourne said the country has over 170 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind potential.
Leybourne assured the DoE of the delivery of a “robust, independent and practical assessment of the possible ways forward for offshore wind in the Philippines.”
Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi expressed his appreciation for the World Bank’s support in helping the country 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-percent 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,” said Cusi in a statement on Tuesday.
The Energy department has awarded five Wind Energy Service Contracts – Guimaras Strait Wind Power Project, Aparri Bay Wind Power Project, Guimaras Strait II Wind Project, Frontera Bay WPP and San Miguel Bay WPP – with the combined potential capacity of 5 GW from offshore wind.
The Philippine Offshore Wind Roadmap is among the series of offshore wind roadmap studies commissioned by the WBG under the joint Energy Sector Management Assistance Program-International Finance Corporation Offshore Wind Development Program.
Source: The Manila Times