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| The 50 windmills of the EDC Burgos Wind Project Corporation generates 150MW of electricity and has been connected to the national grid since November 2014. (Alaric A. Yanos) |
By
John Michael Mugas
PGIN-CMO
At
least 70 international delegates and members
of the Expert Group on New and Renewable Energy Technologies (EGNRET), a
subcommittee of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), will converge on
April 13-16 in Ilocos Norte to discuss and conduct workshops in ‘doubling the
APEC region’s goal of generating renewable energy.’
Ilocos Norte Governor Ma.
Imelda “Imee” R. Marcos said Ilocos Norte is proud to host the meeting as the
province “is now an emerging renewable energy capital not only in the
Philippines but also in Southeast Asia.”
Since 2010, her initiatives
have paved the way for Ilocos Norte to become home to the 150-megawatt wind
power project of Energy Development Corporation (EDC), a unit of First Gen
Corporation, in Burgos; the 81-MW Caparispisan wind station of Northern Luzon
UPC Asia Corporation; and the 52-MW Bangui wind project of Northwind Power and
Development Corporation. The latter is also planning to build a 2-MW solar
project to match its wind power generators in the province.
Ongoing project in the
province includes the near completion of EDC’s 4.1-MW solar project within the
Burgos wind project area.
‘Road map for doubling the share of renewables in the
APEC region'
Through this meeting, APEC aims to discourage the subsidy of
fossil fuels by promoting the use of renewable energy.
“We hope through holding the
[44th meeting] of
EGNRET [in Ilocos Norte], we can exchange information and learn new techniques
[of renewable energy production] from each other in the APEC region,” said
Vivian Hsieh, APEC EGNRET’s secretariat.
In the recent APEC Energy
Ministerial Meeting held in China, EGNRET strengthens its objective to develop
a road map for the aspirational goal of doubling the share of renewables in the
APEC energy mix, including in power generation by 2030.
Ms. Marcos noted that the
province is an ideal investment site for renewable energy facilities because of
its “strong and consistent wind conditions, the presence of solar and a clean
and green Ilocos Norte”.
Preparations underway
Maria P. Cerezo, Director of the Department of Energy’s
Renewable Energy Management Bureau, said that “as announced by the APEC
EGNRET’s secretariat, the gathering will be devoted to meetings, workshops and
site visit to the renewable energy facilities in the province.”
“Preparations are already
ongoing as we want to make sure that the delegates will have the chance to
visit the tourist spots and experience the dynamic and rich culture of the
province,” said Mr. Eric Pascua, head of the Provincial Investment Office.
Recently, Ms. Marcos lauded
the strong contributions of renewable energy production to the local community,
especially during calamities and natural disasters.
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