Philippines - Second wind-power farm ready by next year

Smith Bell Wind Technologies Inc., the Danish partner in the San Carlos Wind Farm project in Negros Occidental, said construction of the multibillion-peso project will start by the end of next year. Ruth Owen, Smith-Bell president, said the company will spend $55 million or more than P3 billion for the construction of the wind power, which is expected to have 19 to 24 turbine generators each with a capacity of 1.5 to 2 megawatts.

The facility, which is located around Mount Malindog in Barangays Linubagan and Prosperidad, San Carlos City, Negros Occidental, is the second wind power project in the Philippines and in Southeast Asia. The first such project was in Ilocos Norte. Once operational, the Negros wind power will supply power to the electric distribution utilities in the Negros and Panay subgrids. Of the total project cost, the firm intends to spend P1.7 billion for the acquisition of the turbine, with the remaining amount for use in the construction and development of the facilities. Bulk of the cost at P2.2 billion is expected to come from loans. Project proponents have applied for Danish foreign aid and from European banks. This early, the company said it is planning to set up a second phase for the wind-power project, but in another town. Owen said the second phase of the project is bigger, with a capacity of 60 megawatts, and requiring $110 million or more than P6 billion to construct.

Smith Bell hopes to start construction of the wind power by 2008. Owen said the company will make its financial closing by next year. In 2000 Smith Bell started monitoring the wind speed in the province using three 20-meter high masts. In 2004 it installed a new 60-meter net mast to validate earlier measured data, which suggested an expected gross generation outcome of between 75 and 80 million kilowatt hours a year, or equal to the consumption of around 150,000 households.