Wind energy in Philippines: six potential wind power projects in Luzon. Energy Development Corp., a renewable power producer led by the Lopez Group, plans to build six more power projects that will add 1,500 megawatts. EDC received an approval from the Energy Department to conduct studies on six potential wind power projects in Luzon and the Visayas to determine their impact on the power grid. Latest data from the Energy Department showed that EDC received approval for the 153-MW Matnog 1 and 206-MW Matnog 2 wind projects in Matnog, Sorsogon; 213-MW Iloilo 1 in Batad and San Dionisio and 500-MW Iloilo 2 in Concepcion, Iloilo. The company was also granted approval to conduct the grid impact study for the expansion of the 183-MW Burgos wind project in Burgos, Ilocos Norte. EDC owns the existing 150-MW Burgos wind project in Ilocos Norte which was successfully commissioned in November 2014 and is now considered the country’s largest wind power project. EDC also received an approval to conduct the grid impact study for the 262-MW Negros wind project in Manapla and Cadiz.

EDC, an affiliate of First Gen Corp., is the country’s largest geothermal producer which expanded its renewable energy footprint to include solar and wind. The National Renewable Energy Board recently sought an approval from the Energy Department for an additional 500-MW installation target for wind projects under the feed-in tariff regime. NREB proposed a lower feed-in tariff rate of P6 to P7 per kilowatt-hour for wind projects under the third round of installation targets.

The Energy Regulatory Commission earlier granted a P7.40-per-kWh feed-in tariff rate to Trans-Asia Renewable Energy Corp.’s 54-MW San Lorenzo wind power project in Guimaras, PetroWind Energy Inc.’s 36-MW Nabas wind project in Aklan and Alternergy Wind One Corp.’s 54-MW Pililla wind power project in Rizal under the second wave of wind projects. The regulator granted a lower rate to the second wave of wind projects due to the recent developments in wind technology.

ERC earlier approved a feed-in tariff rate of P8.53 per kWh under the first wave of wind installation target. Qualified projects include EDC’s 150-MW Burgos wind project, NorthWind Power Development Corp.’s 18.9-MW phase 3 wind project and North Luzon Renewable Energy Corp’s 81-MW Caparispisan wind project in Ilocos Norte. The Energy Department increased the installation target for wind under the FIT system to 400 MW from 200 MW.