11 Negros Occidental wind projects advance along bird migration route

Concerns regarding the projects' impact on bird migration routes are being addressed, and the developments align with the province's goal to transition to renewable energy and reduce reliance on fossil fuels

AT A GLANCE

• Eleven wind farm projects are being developed in Negros Occidental, with a combined capacity of 3,767 megawatts, scheduled for commissioning between 2027 and 2030.
• The projects are located in various cities and municipalities along the coastline facing the Guimaras Strait, which is favorable for wind energy due to strong winds.

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NEGROS OCCIDENTAL Philippines – Eleven wind farm projects are moving forward in Negros Occidental, all facing the Guimaras Strait, a bird migration route.

The province’s coastline facing the strait is conducive to wind energy development because of its strong winds.

Eleven cities and municipalities in Negros Occidental are set to host the projects.

The cities are Cadiz, Silay, Victorias, Talisay, Bacolod, Bago and Kabankalan, while the municipalities are Manapla, E.B. Magalona, Pulupandan and Cauayan.

The projects, scheduled for commissioning and commercial operations between 2027 and 2030, have a combined capacity of 3,767 megawatts (MW).

William Carido of the Department of Energy (DOE) Visayas identified the project proponents during the “Be REeady” Caravan organized by the Provincial Energy Development Council (PEDC) in Himamaylan City on Wednesday, October 14, as the following:

• Bago-Negros Energy Corporation
• Envision Energy Philippines Corporation
• Apolaki One Incorporated
• Energy Development Corporation 
• Triconti Southwind Corporation 
• Freya Renewables
• First Gen Visayas Energy Incorporated
• Haraya Wind Energy Corporation

Carido said the 11 wind farms are currently classified as indicative projects but are expected to proceed, as their proponents could face penalties from the DOE if they fail to meet their commitments.

According to the DOE’s schedule, the 200-MW Cauayan Wind Project, developed by Envision Energy Philippines, is expected to be the province’s first wind farm to enter operation.

Commissioning is targeted for October 2027, with commercial operations scheduled for December 2027.

The next project is Bago-Negros Energy Corporation’s 300-MW wind farm in Bago City, covering phases 1 and 2. It is scheduled for commissioning in October 2028 and commercial operations in December of that year.

Bago City held a groundbreaking ceremony on June 10 for phase 1 of the project, which has a capacity of 150 MW.

Both the Cauayan and Bago projects are onshore wind farms.

The last project scheduled for development is Haraya Wind Energy’s 1,215-MW Haraya IV-Negros Wind Project, which is expected to begin commercial operations in May 2030.

The DOE has yet to identify a specific site within the province for the project.

Rafael Coscolluela, a former Negros Occidental governor who now serves as a provincial consultant on energy and environmental issues, said the 11 projects would comprise both onshore and offshore wind farms.

Offshore development poses significant challenges, he said.

The DOE has yet to determine which cities and municipalities will host the onshore and offshore projects.

Coscolluela said proponents would face lengthy procedures to secure an environmental impact assessment (EIA) and an environmental compliance certificate (ECC) from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

The DOE Visayas office said energy projects with capitalization of at least P3.5 billion may qualify for a Certificate of Energy Project of National Significance (CEPNS), which can help streamline and expedite permitting.

On concerns about the projects’ proximity to the Guimaras Strait bird migration route, Coscolluela said an initial agreement with proponents called for painting turbine blades in bright colors to make them more visible to birds.

Coscolluela welcomed the wind farm developments, noting that Negros Occidental was declared coal-free on March 6, 2019, when then-governor Alfredo Marañón Jr. signed Executive Order No. 19-08.

The order has not been repealed and remains in effect, he said.

“The only hurdle is, can Negros Occidental benefit from the power to be produced by wind farms?” Coscolluela said.

He said the province’s three distribution utilities could be encouraged to prioritize contracts with solar and wind power producers as their existing power supply agreements (PSAs) expire.

Wind farms would also contribute to the province’s goal of gradually shifting from fossil fuels to renewable energy as part of its energy transition and decarbonization efforts, he said.

The national target is for renewable energy to account for 35% of the country’s energy mix by 2030, Coscolluela said.

“SecuRE Negros,” an energy program backed by PEDC, aims to contribute to that national goal, he added. – Rappler.com