H&WB ushers in ocean tidal power

MANILA, Philippines - H&WB Asia Pacific (Pte Ltd) Corp. has struck a deal with a French energy development firm specializing in tidal technology to develop and finance the first set of ocean tidal power plant project in the country.

H&WB signed a memorandum of agreement with Sabella SAS last Oct. 15 for the development and financing of the former’s three concession areas for ocean energy projects.

The deal, signed by Sabella chairman and president M. Jean-Francois Daviau and H&WB president and CEO Antonio A. Ver, was witnessed by French Embassy deputy chief of mission Laurent Le Godec.

These projects consist of the first set of ocean tidal power plants in the Philippines and in the Asean region as well, H&WB said.

The deal covers three concession areas namely: Area 1 – San Bernardino Strait between Bicol Peninsula and Samar Leyte Corridor (2,025 hectares); Area 2 – San Bernardino Strait between Bicol Peninsula and Samar Leyte Corridor (2,025 hectares); Area 3 – San Bernardino Strait between Bicol Peninsula and Samar Leyte Corridor (1,863 hectares).

These contracts, awarded by the Department of Energy (DOE) in October 2013, are located in San Bernardino Strait between Matnog, in the province of Sorsogon, and Capul and Dalupiri in Leyte.

H&WB said these projects are commitments to pursue renewable energy in the Philippines, consistent with climate change initiatives of both countries.

Latest DOE data showed these contracts have on-going studies and permitting for a five-megawatt (MW) plant in each location.

So far, the company has commenced a five-MW demonstration plant that can supply clean, reliable energy to Sorsogon Electric Cooperative I and II in Sorsogon.