CleanTech ties up with Singapore firm for wind project

MANILA, Philippines — Filipino-owned renewable energy developer CleanTech Global Renewables Inc. has teamed up with Singapore-based The Blue Circle to undertake the largest offshore wind project in the Philippines.

CleanTech and The Blue Circle have signed their first wind energy service contract (WESC) to develop a 1.2-gigawatt (GW) offshore wind project in Bulalacao, Oriental Mindoro.

The project, secured through a competitive bidding, consists of 100 turbines with a unit capacity of 12 megawatts (MW) each, or a total of 1,200 MW to become the largest offshore wind project of the country.

Olivier Duguet, CEO at The Blue Circle, said the Bulalacao offshore wind project has a promising potential.

“This site is ideally situated outside of major environmental constraints, away from the direct typhoon hit zone and with high winds in shallow to medium depth waters,” Duguet said.

Backed by a strong team of wind energy professionals with experience in developing and operating wind power projects across the ASEAN, Duguet said The Blue Circle is committed to undertaking the project and taking part in the Philippine government’s efforts to meet its carbon emissions reduction target and prepare the country for more sustainable and greener future expansion.

“We are looking forward to working closely with our partner CleanTech  Global Renewables Inc. to harness the country’s best wind resources, to power economic growth by creating green jobs while preserving the environment,” Duquet said.

CleanTech CEO Salvador Antonio Castro said the company continues to strongly push for the adoption of new technologies and best practices to grow its renewables assets with the continuous support to pursue innovation from partners.

“The Bulalacao offshore project will incur a limited environmental footprint in a very favorable landscape for wind power potential. I am enthusiastic and eager to build this major stepping stone towards our country’s sustainable development and energy independence,” Castro said.

The project, to be situated in a sprawling 40,095 hectares, will be of a significant size for both floating and bottom fixed wind turbines.

The massive undertaking in line with the roadmap being prepared by the Department of Energy under the assistance of the World Bank Group aims to harness the estimated 170-GV potential of offshore wind power in the Philippines.

According to the government’s Clean Energy Scenario (CES) outlined in the Philippines Energy Plan 2020-2040, the archipelago needs to add at least 92 GW of renewable energy to its energy mix by 2040 to reach the 50 percent mark for renewable energy share.

In order to meet the CES goals, UK’s BVG Associates estimated that the Philippines needs to be operating four large offshore projects by 2040.