BOI approves P687.5-M add’l investment of Northwind Power

The Board of Investments (BOI) has approved the P687.5-million additional investment of Northwind Power Development Corp to add five units of wind turbine to its present project and increase its capacity from 25 megawatts (MW) to 33 MW.

The project originally involved the installation of 15 units of wind turbine at 1.65 MW each for a total of 25 MW capacity.

Trade and Industry Undersecretary and BOI Managing Head Elmer C. Hernandez said the additional P687.5 million investment represents about 30 percent of the original cost.

However, the manpower requirement for the wind farm facility remains at 28 personnel.

With the increase in power output, Northwind may be able to extend the power supply from the present energy buyer Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative (INEC) to other electric utilities such as the Cagayan Electric Cooperative, Inc. (CAGELCO) and the Ilocos Sur Electric Cooperative, Inc. (ISECO).

Hernandez said that energy produced by the additional units would be delivered to the customers through the 69KV transmission line now being constructed for the ongoing project.

Hernandez elaborated that the substation would be increased with another 30 MVA to accommodate the additional load and to have a full back up set-up.

The power plant, located in Bangui, Ilocos Norte, would start commercial operation by August 2005.

Northwind is a 70-percent Filipino-owned and 30-percent Danish-owned power firm.