ACEN investing P34 billion for Quezon wind farm

MANILA, Philippines — Ayala-led ACEN Corp. is looking to spend around P34.5 billion to develop its proposed large-scale onshore wind power facility in Tayabas, Quezon.

In a recent filing with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), ACEN subsidiary Gigawind4 Inc. said the Banahaw Wind Power Project has a total power generating capacity of up to 247 megawatts (MW).

With a project area of 4,536 hectares, the wind facility consists of 38 wind turbine generators with a standard rated power of 6.5 MW each.

“While solar energy remains pivotal in the renewable energy mix, the synergy between solar and wind energy is noteworthy,” Gigawind4 said.

“Integrating the proposed 247 MW wind farm into the broader energy landscape creates a robust and balanced renewable energy mix, addressing the Philippines’ increasing demand for clean and sustainable energy,” it said.

Based on the company’s indicative timeline, the pre-development phase of the wind project will take about three years to complete.

Preliminary activities include site scoping and planning, securing of national permits and licenses, and the conduct of wind resource measurement and assessment.

The first phase of the development and construction stage, meanwhile, would involve the preparation of access roads, platforms and foundations, Gigawind4 said.

“The construction may take about two years and possibly five years before it can be fully operational,” the company added.

The ACEN unit intends to tap multiple consultants to advance the project from the development phase to construction and eventually to the operational stage.

“The Banahaw Wind Power Project is not only a significant endeavor in advancing renewable energy, but it also holds great potential to address regional needs and bring about positive socio-economic changes,” Gigawind4 said.

For this proposed project, the DENR’s Environmental Management Bureau has invited all interested and concerned parties to attend a public scoping activity today at the Casa Comunidad de Tayabas in Quezon.

The public scoping is an early stage in the environmental impact assessment process where the proponent presents an overview of the project and other relevant information to provide the scope of work and terms of reference.

ACEN, the listed energy platform of the Ayala Group, currently has close to 1,000 MW of wind portfolio in the Philippines, spanning operational and under-construction projects.