DMCI Power to harness wind energy for Semirara Island

BY JAMES A. LOYOLA – Jun 5, 2023 02:14 PM
from Manila Bulletin

Leading off-grid electricity generator DMCI Power Corporation (DPC), a subsidiary of diversified engineering conglomerate DMCI Holdings Inc., is set to build a wind power plant in Semirara Island.

The island is home of the biggest coal reserve in the Philippines and is being exclusively developed and mined by sister company Semirara Mining and Power Corporation.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, the DMCI said DPC intends to finalize the wind power capacity in the coming months, with projections ranging from 8 to 12 megawatts.

Operational implementation is expected within 12 to 15 months. The project will be funded and undertaken independently by the company.

“We are also looking at solar energy to augment the supply in the island, but we are prioritizing wind resource development because it has shown the most promise,” said DPC President Antonino E. Gatdula, Jr.

He explained that, “Current studies suggest that wind power could potentially deliver a 33 percent plant utilization rate, compared to just 17 percent for solar. Capital expenditure per megawatt for both wind and solar projects are also roughly the same.”

In a 2001 wind resource study conducted by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), a United States Department of Energy (DOE) laboratory, it was found that Semirara Island has some of the best wind resources in the Philippines.

The wind corridors between Luzon and Panay (including Semirara Islands and extending to the Cuyo Islands) were found to have good-to-excellent wind power density and speed for utility-scale or village power applications.

DPC is in the process of validating these wind resource estimates to determine the final location and capacity of its wind project.