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ACEN Corp. has completed a major maintenance and repair program for its 52-megawatt (MW) NorthWind wind farm in Bangui Bay, Ilocos Norte, extending the facility’s operating life and strengthening the output of Southeast Asia’s first commercial wind farm.
The two-phase program, carried out from 2025 to 2026, covered all 20 wind turbines at the facility, which was commissioned in 2005. ACEN said the mechanical and electrical upgrades are expected to enable NorthWind to generate an additional 769 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of renewable electricity over the next 10 years.
The added generation is equivalent to supplying electricity to about 188,000 households and avoiding roughly 592,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions, according to the Ayala group’s listed energy platform.
Long-Term Improvements
ACEN said the refurbishment was designed to improve NorthWind’s efficiency, reliability and long-term performance rather than resorting to premature decommissioning.
The approach allows the company to maximize infrastructure that is already connected to the Luzon grid while reducing waste that would otherwise result from dismantling and disposing of aging turbine components.
“Building renewable energy assets is only part of the equation. Equally important is ensuring they continue operating safely, efficiently, and reliably throughout their lifecycle,” ACEN Chief Operating Officer for Philippine Operations Miguel de Jesus said.
De Jesus said the NorthWind program demonstrates how targeted investments can extend the value of existing renewable energy infrastructure while continuing to provide clean and reliable electricity to consumers.
ACEN described the project as an example of strategic asset optimization that could be applied to other first-generation renewable energy facilities as they reach maturity.
NorthWind began operations more than two decades ago and helped establish wind power as a viable component of the region’s renewable energy sector. Its continued operation comes as the Philippines seeks to expand renewable energy capacity while making better use of existing power infrastructure.
Reducing Waste
The project also generated employment during the implementation of the upgrades, with most of the technical and manual workforce recruited from communities in Ilocos Norte.
ACEN said keeping the wind farm in operation also supports local livelihoods and allows the facility to continue generating economic value while supplying renewable power to consumers.
The company said extending the useful life of existing projects can help address the environmental costs associated with early retirement of renewable energy equipment. Reusing grid connections and other established infrastructure can likewise reduce the need for new facilities to replace assets that remain technically viable.
The NorthWind upgrades form part of ACEN’s broader portfolio of renewable energy investments across the Asia-Pacific region. The company has about 7 gigawatts (GW) of attributable renewable energy capacity across operational, under-construction, and committed projects, with the Philippines as its core market.
More Wind Capacity
Additionally, ACEN said it is providing up to ₱1 billion to wholly owned subsidiary Giga Ace 6, Inc. to support the development of the 344.5-MW Quezon North Wind Power Project.
In a disclosure to the stock exchange, ACEN said it entered into a short-term loan agreement with Giga Ace 6, the project company for the Quezon wind development.
The 344.5-MW project is the first phase of a larger wind development targeted for completion by 2027. A second phase with a capacity of 208 MW is also under development.
Together, the NorthWind refurbishment and planned new projects highlight ACEN’s approach of combining the continued use of established renewable energy assets with the expansion of new generation capacity.
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