Firm eyes wind power potential

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines  — A private power firm has been awarded by the Energy Department to explore the wind resource potential of some 8,000 hectares of rugged terrain in the inland barangays of the cities of Bayawan and Tanjay, and the town of Pamplona. 

Former DOE assistant secretary Annete Rafael, who is now senior vice president of Constellation Energy Corporation, told The FREEMAN that the firm's initial studies showed that the areas have the potential to generate around 20 to 40 megawatts of power for the next 30 years.

She said that should the project go as planned, CEC would be able to confirm the viability of the project in late 2012 and be able to generate its "first kilowatt" in early 2014.

This project would help "develop a reliable, cheaper, clean, and environmentally-friendly source of electricity; spur economic activities in the area; provide employment opportunities; and save on imported oil costs," said Rafael although she admitted that the firm, at this time, could not yet determine if the wind farm would help cut the rate of power in the province.

Provincial Board Member Arnee Teves, president of the Liga ng mga Barangay-Negros Oriental, pointed out that power generated from renewable energy sources would end up to be pricier than those produced by more traditional means.

Rafael however emphasized the importance of having other sources of power in the province. "Negros (Oriental) plays a significant role as major supplier of electricity in the Visayas grid. However, kayo po ang nasa second last leg nitong grid, kaya nakaka-experience kayo ng brownout…. nag-su-suffer ang Negros Oriental," she told the Provincial Board during a project presentation.

"Nasa inyo ang resources. You have a vast resource of energy - mapa hydro, mapa-geothermal, and even some biomass, and you have the most potential for wind energy," she said, adding that to enable the province to sustain development, it should be ready to meet the projected power demand.

By 2030, the region would need an additional power of 2,150 megaWatts while at present there is a lack in power supply even with the building of new power plants in the region, said Rafael. 

Provincial Administrator-designate Jose Arnel Francisco replied that one of the priorities of Governor Roel Degamo is to have investors explore new sources of energy considering the continuing rise of oil prices in the global market. "The governor has been willing to support investors who are willing to help conserve, protect, rehabilitate and manage the province's natural resources," Francisco quoted the governor.

Engineer Arnulfo Zabala of the Department of Energy, however, clarified that the power would depend on the generation cost of the plant. He said that in Ilocos Norte, the Bangui Wind Farm is selling "seven percent lower than the grid rate." He said the generation of power through wind resource does not require any fuel to run, thus eliminating the cost of fuel in the equation, there is however the pricing of power involving engineering, procurement, and construction of the facility.

Wind turbines still have to be imported from other countries like Europe, the US, China, and India, so the investment requirement is still high. "Cheap po sa fuel, pero ang kanyang investment requirement ay napakalaki po," Zabala said.

 "Kaya nandyan po yung batas para magbigay ng incentives," referring to the Renewable Energy Act of 2008 (RA 9513). He said that these factors have to be put into consideration in determining the rate of power. He said that for Bangui Wind Farm, they were able to get better returns because of the grants that they were able to get to help operate the facility.

Rafael clarified that since the project is still in its exploratory stage, they are still unable to determine the actual cost in running the facility, or the actual cost of power that will be generated from the facility.

She, however, expressed confidence in the project, believing that the wind farm would not only help augment the power needs of the province but would also help in its economic development. "With all your support we will develop all these energy resources in your province para hindi mag-susuffer ang sa end ng grind yung ating probinsya," she said. (FREEMAN)