Trans-Asia eyes wind power for Guimaras

May 26th, 2008 by Site Administrator

MANILA, Philippines–Trans-Asia Oil and Energy Development Corp. (TA Oil) is almost done with its wind power potential study in Guimaras, which will pave the way for the possible establishment of a wind farm in the area.

TA Oil president and chief executive Francisco L. Viray said the company was now on its eighth month of a 1-year study of Guimaras’ wind power potential.

According to initial estimates, Guimaras has the potential to produce 10-20 megawatts (MW) of wind power, he said.

At this point, however, he said there were no concrete plans yet for the wind farm.

“After we finish the 1-year study, we’ll do a pre-feasibility study, then a feasibility study. There’s still a long way to go,” he said.

He related that TA Oil had earlier studied the possibility of putting up a wind power facility in Sual, Pangasinan, but the company abandoned plans due to disappointing study results.

Based on studies conducted by the US National Renewable Energy Laboratory and the Department of Energy, the country has vast renewable energy potential, including 76,000 MW of wind capacity and 170,000 MW of ocean energy capacity.

This potential capacity exceeds the projected 4,350 MW in additional capacity that the country would need in the next six years.

Wind is one of the energy resources that will benefit from the passage of the Renewable Energy Bill, which has been pending in its various forms for almost two decades now.

It almost became a law in the 13th Congress, having passed at third reading at the House of Representatives. Although certified “urgent” by Malacañang in February last year, it only reached committee level approval at the Senate.

Now in the 14th Congress, 18 versions of the bill had been filed.

The Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council again listed the RE Bill as one of the 28 priority bills for this Congress. (Abigail L. Ho, Philippine Daily Inquirer)