Why Ilocos Norte Is Dubbed Southeast Asia’s Renewable Energy Capital

Nestled at the northern tip of Luzon, Ilocos Norte stands as one of the Philippines’ most captivating destinations.

Centuries-old churches such as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)-listed Paoay Church, completed in 1710 and restored in 2020, anchor a rich cultural tapestry. Saud Beach in Pagudpud, often called the Boracay of the North, gained global recognition when Travel & Leisure named it among the world’s most beautiful beaches. Meanwhile, iconic rock formations such as Kapurpurawan in Burgos add to the province’s dramatic landscape.

In 2024, the province welcomed a remarkable 4.3 million tourists, an uptick from 3.5 million in 2023. Tourism revenues soared to approximately ₱10.4 billion. This blend of heritage, natural beauty, and robust tourism has long defined Ilocos Norte—and yet, just over its breezy horizon, another claim to fame rises: the pioneering Bangui Wind Farm.

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The Bangui Wind Farm: a brief history

In 1996, a wind resource study by the U.S.-based National Renewable Energy Laboratory identified Ilocos Norte’s Bangui and Burgos as prime sites for wind power.

The initiative was taken forward by NorthWind Power Development Corporation, which partnered with Denmark’s Vestas Wind Systems to provide the turbines. Modeled after similar installations in Europe, the Bangui project was envisioned in phases, with the first completed and inaugurated in 2005.

Phase I installed 15 turbines capable of producing nearly 25 megawatts (MW), later expanded with five more units to raise output to 33 MW. The energy flows into the Luzon Grid through a substation in Laoag City. Towering at 70 meters with 41-meter blades, the windmills have become a significant energy source for Ilocos Norte.

In 2017, Ayala Group’s listed energy arm, now known as ACEN Corporation, assumed ownership of NorthWind and its Bangui Wind Farm operations. Now, the installation holds the distinction of being the company’s first renewable energy (RE) venture and Southeast Asia’s pioneering wind farm. With a capacity of 52 MW, it generates enough electricity to power more than 21,000 homes each year while preventing an estimated 62,230 tonnes of carbon emissions.

Bangui’s turbines became a flagship tourist attraction, often bundled with Pagudpud-Laoag tours and widely marketed in domestic travel media. According to PacificTech Solutions, now known as the Artelia Group, which served as a consultancy partner to NorthWind, the Bangui Bay Wind Farm delivered the dual benefits of generating clean energy and driving tourism.

“This project had unexpectedly brought an influx of tourists coming from different parts of the Philippines, giving a boost to the tourism industry in the region and livelihood to the local people of Ilocos Norte,” the firm stated. “The development of said project put Ilocos Norte province in the Top 10 Tourist Destinations in the country, and the number of tourists coming has been increasing ever since.”

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Southeast Asia’s green powerhouse

The Bangui Wind Farm played a pivotal role in establishing Ilocos Norte’s reputation as an RE pioneer. Beyond being Southeast Asia’s first wind facility, it also marked several milestones: it became the first Philippine project to secure an Emissions Reduction Purchase Agreement under the Clean Development Mechanism, and the first to receive Carbon Emission Reduction Certificates from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Beyond Bangui, Ilocos Norte continues to host a growing roster of renewable energy projects, both operational and in development.

Burgos Wind Farm

Location: Burgos, covering 600 hectares across the barangays of Saoit, Poblacion, and Nagsurot

Operational since: 2014

Capacity: 150 MW

Project details: Run by EDC Burgos Wind Power Corporation, the Burgos Wind Farm currently stands as the country’s largest wind energy project. It delivers about 370 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of electricity annually, enough to power thousands of households. The facility, equipped with 50 Vestas turbines and linked to the Luzon grid through upgraded transmission lines, was also the first wind project nominated under the government’s feed-in tariff program.

North Luzon Renewables Wind Farm

Location: On a 625-hectare forest reserve in Caparispisan, Pagudpud

Operational since: 2014

Capacity: 81 MW

Project details: The wind farm brings together ACEN, UPC Renewables, Mitsubishi Corporation’s Diamond Generating Asia, and the Philippine Investment Alliance for Infrastructure Fund in a major RE venture. Certified under the Gold Standard since 2015, the facility runs on 27 Siemens turbines, each with a 3-MW capacity.

Balaoi and Caunayan Wind Power Project

Location: stretching over the coastal communities of Balaoi and the adjacent Caunayan barangay

Status: partially operational

Capacity: 160 MW

Project details: ACEN, in partnership with UPC Renewables, is developing the ₱11.4 billion Balaoi & Caunayan Wind Farm, set to become the Philippines’ largest. The project features 32 Siemens Gamesa turbines, each rated at 5 MW. By 2023, it was operating at half capacity, generating 80 MW, with full 160 MW output expected by 2025 under the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Green Energy Auction Program.

Garcia 2 Solar Project

Location: Currimao

Operational since: 2023

Capacity: 68 MW

Project details: Nuevo Solar Energy Corp. (NSEC), a joint venture between MGen Renewable Energy and Singapore’s Vena Energy, operates this 100-hectare solar facility, which sits next to Vena’s existing 16-MW Garcia 1 project. The initiative powers roughly 132,000 households annually, cuts around 124,468 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions, and features 157,000 photovoltaic panels.

Ilocos Norte continues to solidify its position as a renewable energy hub in the Philippines with several major projects underway. The DOE recently awarded the 1000 MW Pasuquin-Burgos Solar Power Plant to Energy Logics Philippines, Inc., with construction expected to commence in 2026.

Insights from Ilocos Norte’s RE journey

Ilocos Norte’s renewable energy journey offers a clear example of how local initiatives can drive sustainable growth.

Strong government support

The provincial government partnered with ACEN Corporation and the Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative (INEC) to launch a Solar Rooftop Program, installing solar panels on government buildings, schools, and community structures to reduce electricity costs.

Recently, Mariano Marcos State University’s Affiliated Renewable Energy Center (MMSU-AREC) organized a Renewable Energy Partnership Summit, bringing together local government units, solar installers, and national agencies to standardize net metering and harmonize policies.

Additionally, Governor Matthew Marcos Manotoc has actively promoted RE investments, offering incentives and engaging local communities to support sustainable energy initiatives.

Upgrading infrastructure

From 2023 to 2026, Ilocos is expected to bring online nearly 491 MW in new renewable energy capacity. Alongside these green projects, the government is pushing major infrastructure works in Luzon.

Among them are the Laoag International Airport upgrade and the Ilocos Norte–Ilocos Sur–Abra Irrigation Project. “Improving road networks and increasing the capacity of our airports are important to revitalize the tourism industry, especially in places like Laoag, which serves as the main gateway for other destinations in the region,” said former Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno.

Inclusive growth

Tourism development is a key pillar of the National Tourism Development Plan (2023–2028), which promotes innovation, inclusivity, and sustainability. Complementing this, the regional development blueprint aims to halve poverty in Ilocos from 14.3% to 7.3% and maintain economic growth of 7% to7.5% by 2028, reinforcing the link between energy security, infrastructure, and community well-being.

As the province continues to innovate, Ilocos Norte stands as a model for how local action can achieve national and regional energy and development goals.

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paoay_Church

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1248638

https://philstarlife.com/living/865673-saud-beach-25-most-beautiful-beaches-in-the-world

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1245850

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangui_Wind_Farm

https://www.acenrenewables.com/project/north-wind-power

https://www.ph.arteliagroup.com/Projects/bangui-bay-wind-farm

https://www.power-technology.com/projects/burgos-wind-project-ilocos-norte

https://www.firstgen.com.ph/our-business/wind

https://nlr.com.ph/about/

https://business.inquirer.net/393855/nsec-opens-68-mw-solar-power-project-in-ilocos-norte