EPHI set to select EPC for tidal power plant

MANILA, Philippines — Energies PH Inc. (EPHI) is set to select in September the engineering-procurement-construction (EPC) company to lay down and deploy the first-ever tidal power in the Philippines and in Southeast Asia.

EPHI’s project company San Bernardino Ocean Power Corp. achieved its confirmation of commerciality for the first ever tidal power plant from the Department of Energy in July 2020.

The company is launching a series of firsts in the Philippines with its tidal in-stream energy conversion power technology project bundled with the nationwide microgrid program and recharging hydrogen fuels in Capul island in San Bernardino strait, and adjoining islands in Northern Samar up to Calintaan Island in Matnog, Sorsogon.

Strong tidal currents are found in straits that join two sea areas where different tidal activities happen at the two ends.

The San Bernardino strait has strong currents flowing from the Samar Sea and the Philippine Sea.

EPHI said the bundling of solar and tidal power with recharging hydrogen fuels would provide steady microgrid electricity to poor residents of select islands and remote areas in the country.

Antonio Ver, co-chairman and CEO of EPHI, said the Capul ocean power plant was envisioned as early as 12 years ago.

“Going to Capul is fulfillment of the mission to help the poorest of the poor escape from the unending vicious poverty cycle in Samar, in the Visayas, in the Philippines,” he said.

Ver said there are also plans for the company to set up in Siquijor, Mindoro, Masbate, Catanduanes, Palawan and 12 more sites in the Philippines “to raise the national gross domestic product, reach far flung barangays down to their sitios delivering electricity, education and public health awareness.”

He said the newly launched company, EPHI, is going in this direction as it believes that the best way to use limited private funds is to bring power where it is most needed in the country – the poor in the hinterlands.