Pagudpud windmill farm goes online

By Leilanie G. Adriano

Staff reporter

Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte—Firmly establishing Ilocos Norte as the renewable energy capital of the country, the 81-megawatt Pagudpud wind farm, the first and largest investment so far of the North Luzon Renewable Energy Corporation opened on Nov. 19 in the coastal and windy Brgy. Caparispisan in this town.

Attended by Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and his sister, Ilocos Norte Governor Ma. Imelda “Imee” R. Marcos along with other guests and visitors, a ceremonial ribbon cutting ceremony and blessing of one of the 27 wind turbines was led by St. Jude Parish priest Fr. Franklin Gorospe.

The Pagudpud wind farm is a joint venture of three giant companies composed of UPC Renewables, Philippine Investment Alliance for Infrastructure (PINAI) and Ayala Corporation Energy Holdings Inc. These three companies joined together to develop wind projects here through the NLREC as their joint venture company.

Since November 11, John Eric Francia, AC Energy Holdings Inc. president and one of the key shareholders of the Pagudpud wind project said that the 27 wind turbines with a full capacity of 3-megawatt each are now connected to the grid.

“So far, we can produce at the full capacity of each turbine but it depends on the wind and grid condition. We can produce up to 81-megawatts but we have to consider several factors as the grid is current being upgraded,” Mr. Francia said.

Following the successful inauguration of the over US$200-million wind project, Mr. Francia disclosed that the company is planning to expand up to 150-megawatt as project’s next phase.

Aside from sustaining Ilocos Norte’s trademark as home of green technology through the development of wind and solar power projects, the Pagudpud wind farm situated at the rolling hills of Brgy. Caparispisan overseeing the West Philippine Sea is also being eyed as an additional eco-tourism destination in this northern gateway of Luzon.

“As of now, we have yet to open the project for the public as there are still on-going civil works and minor development. It would be good for a tourism stand point as well.  That’s something we have to consider but first we have to consider safety,” he added.

As Ilocos Norte continue to lead the way in the development of renewable energy in Southeast Asia, Senator Marcos who flew in by a helicopter to the project site has lauded investors for taking relevant steps towards easing expected electricity shortage by 2015.

Mr. Marcos said the project which taps wind as an energy source is not just environmentally-sound but also contributes towards easing the feared power crisis in 2015.

Earlier, the House Committee on Energy approved the granting of emergency powers to President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III where he will have the authority to provide for the establishment of additional power generating capacity to address the projected energy crisis.

Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho L. Petilla has forewarned the public several times of a possible 2-3 hour rotating brownouts in the summer of 2015 if government fails to address the projected power shortage.

With the development of more wind farms and solar projects, Mr. Marcos said that even the grant of emergency powers to the President, the expected output to be generated by these renewable energy projects would contribute greatly towards improving the power situation in Luzon, at least.