Danessa Rivera – The Philippine Star
April 13, 2022 | 12:00am
The Department of Energy (DOE) and the World Bank Group (WBG) will launch within the month the offshore wind roadmap that will allow the country to tap into the massive potential of offshore wind.
To be launched on April 20, the country’s first offshore wind roadmap aims to tap the country’s 178-gigawatt (GW) offshore wind potential and support the Philippine’s goal to move away from coal towards a more sustainable energy system.
Based on initial findings of the roadmap presented in December last year, the Philippines could develop three GW of offshore wind projects by 2040 and six GW by 2050 in a low growth scenario, and up to 20 GW by 2040 and 40 GW by 2050 in a high growth scenario.
It also showed the country’s six potential development zone for OSW are northwest Luzon with five GW, Manila area with three GW, northern Mindoro with 10 GW, southern Mindoro with 36 GW, Guimaras Strait with one GW, and Negros/Panay area with three GW.
The initial findings of the roadmap showed the high growth scenario is achievable if current frameworks in leasing, permitting, power purchase, grid connection, and health and safety are changed or improved, which will allow to accelerate the development of the offshore wind pipeline.
The Philippine offshore wind roadmap is one of a series of studies in emerging markets commissioned by the WBG, under the joint Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP)-International Finance Corp. (IFC) Offshore Wind Development Program.
Funded through the ESMAP, the launch will bring together international and domestic stakeholders from the public and private sectors to discuss the way forward in developing a robust offshore wind industry in the Philippines.
It will also have dialoguess on the technical, economic, environmental, social, employment, and financing aspects of establishing an offshore wind market in the country.
The event will also feature sessions that will tackle recommendations on policy and regulatory frameworks, setting the long-term vision for the industry, spatial planning, grid development and integration, as well as financing and commercial risks.
The offshore wind roadmap will be launched a year after the DOE and the WBG partnered to develop specific policies and regulations for offshore wind projects.
To develop the roadmap, the WBG commissioned BVG Associates (BVGA) to explore the technical, economic, environmental, social, employment, and financing aspects of establishing an offshore wind market in the Philippines.
The project aims to identify areas in the Philippines with high potential for offshore wind development; establish short and long-term offshore wind targets; formulate strategies to successfully integrate offshore wind in the government’s renewable energy (RE) portfolio; and make recommendations on policies that are necessary to foster a conducive business environment for offshore wind investors.
DOE Secretary Alfonso Cusi earlier said the WBG’s support would help the Philippines bolster the development and utilization of wind energy that will help achieve a 35 percent renewable share in the total energy mix by 2030.
So far, the DOE has awarded five offshore wind energy service contracts, namely the Guimaras Strait Wind Power Project (WPP), Aparri Bay WPP, Guimaras Strait II Wind Project, Frontera Bay WPP, and San Miguel Bay WPP, which have a combined potential capacity of five GW.
Source: https://www.philstar.com/business/2022/04/13/2174139/doe-wb-launch-offshore-wind-roadmap