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PetroGreen Energy Corp. (PGEC), owned by the Yuchengco Group of Companies, aims to harness the full capacity of its large offshore wind project in Northern Luzon, supporting the Philippines’ clean energy goals.
PGEC president and CEO Francisco Delfin Jr. stated that by 2030, the company expects to reach a power capacity of about 2,500 megawatts (MW). He also mentioned some of PGEC’s plans, including “shifting from modest capacity to larger capacity sizes. Additionally, we are considering expanding into different geographic regions, not just in Luzon and the Visayas.”
Delfin added that PGEC aims to obtain a pre-development environmental compliance certificate (ECC) for the Ilocos wind farm by the first quarter of this year. This clearance will allow the company to carry out pre-development activities, such as offshore geotechnical and geophysical surveys, to assess the project’s size and layout.
Meanwhile, the pre-development ECC is necessary to proceed with obtaining the full ECC to begin construction.
Boosting the project’s success
PGEC’s Ilocos project is one of the leading offshore wind initiatives identified by the Department of Energy (DOE) as a key contributor to the country’s first offshore wind power generation.
Delfin noted that building essential infrastructure, such as ports, will aid the development of offshore wind projects. DOE has partnered with the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) to repurpose three key ports: Currimao in Ilocos Norte, Batangas port, and the Jose Panganiban port in Camarines Norte.
Under the agreement, the port authority will lead the planning and design work to enhance the facilities, ensuring they can support the setup, activation, and operational demands of offshore wind energy projects.
Delfin emphasized that Currimao Port would be crucial for the development and operation of the Buhawind project, which is considered one of the most progressive offshore wind initiatives in the Philippines.
Project background
In October, the Philippine Board of Investments (BOI) awarded the Green Lane Certificate to the developers’ floating offshore wind projects.
The following month, the development teams hosted the forum “Skills & Strategies for Success: Preparing Tomorrow’s Workforce for Northern Luzon Offshore Wind Power Project” in Makati City. The event gathered key professionals, investors, academic leaders, and government officials to explore workforce development strategies tailored to the offshore wind energy sector in Northern Luzon.
A month later, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) issued the final System Impact Study Report for the PGEC-led Buhawind Energy Philippines’ 2-gigawatt (GW) offshore wind farm. The report was shortly approved afterward.
Project partner Copenhagen Energy (CE) confirmed that the developers have secured final and unconditional approval for grid connection, marking a milestone in the progress of the wind farm.
PGEC and CE began co-developing offshore projects in the country in 2020 and formalized their collaboration with the creation of Buhawind Energy Philippines in 2022. The partnership is focused on developing three other floating offshore wind farms with a combined potential capacity of 4 GW.
Sources:
https://www.philstar.com/business/2025/02/01/2418254/yuchengco-eyes-complete-2-gw-wind-farm-2030
https://tribune.net.ph/2024/11/20/ilocos-shapes-up-as-countrys-re-capital