Guimaras wind farm seen as potential tourism draw

MANILA, Philippines - Apart from providing power to nearly 50,000 households, Trans-Asia Renewable Energy Corp. (TAREC) of the Phinma Group sees the potential of its 54-megawatt (MW) wind farm in Guimaras as a tourist attraction the province.

In a statement, TAREC said the San Lorenzo Wind Farm, named after the town where it is located, is projected to generate over 120 gigawatts-hours of electricity annually, which can sustain the energy demand of 48,000 households.

 “The Visayas is currently experiencing a surge in infrastructure and economic progress, which will eventually lead to higher energy demands,” TAREC said. “The wind farm is more than capable of answering this demand. It will be a key contributor in producing renewable energy in the region.”

Aside from augmenting the power supply in the region, TAREC also envisions the project as a tourist attraction in the area.

 “The wind turbines emanate a sense of majesty and architectural beauty that will makes it a perfect photo backdrop for visitors,” the firm said.

The San Lorenzo Wind Farm consists of 27 wind turbines, each generating two MW of energy.

The project is expected to contribute to the global effort of reducing greenhouse gas emission in the atmosphere estimated at 1.3 million tons of carbon dioxide over a 20-year lifespan.

The key components of the facility, as well as the training to operate these systems, were part of the end-to-end solution provided by Schneider Electric.

TAREC expressed confidence in their choice of design and components as Schneider Electric’s products and services are known to be one of the most reliable in the world.

 “We look forward to the advancements this infrastructure will bring to Guimaras. So far, we’re happy that we have used advanced solutions from Schneider Electric to power this wind farm,” the firm said.

TAREC completed the 54-MW wind farm and commenced commercial operations in December 2014.