TPGC to operate US$100M wind farm in Guimaras
Three years from now, the island-province of Guimaras will have sufficient power supply as US$100-million wind farm project of Trans-Asia Power Generation Corporation (TPGC) becomes operational.
Governor Felipe Hilan Nava said the wind farm power project is already a done deal. The company through its Chief Executive Officer former Energy Secretary Francisco Viray has already agreed to the wind farm power project. The wind farm project will become operational in 2012.
Based on the firm’s investment plan, they will generate 54 megawatts of power out of the wind turbines which are to be erected at Barangay M. Chavez in the town of San Lorenzo. The wind turbines will be situated in the 50-hectare private property.
The TPGC conducted a wind resource assessment in the province in 2008 before they went into a pre-feasibility study on the viability of the project. Energy reports said Guimaras is one of areas in the country which is being considered as possible sites for wind power farms by private investors. It is a significant site for wind energy for power generation.
TPGC’s sister company, Trans-Asia Oil and Development Corporation will undertake the wind farm project. Trans-Asia has an existing 3.4 megawatts bunker C-fired power plant in Jordan.
The owners of the properties covered in the proposed site of wind farm project are willing to sell the property to become the site of the wind turbines. Each wind turbine has the size of 70 to 80 meters high. The firm will generate power more than the required power of the province, said Nava.
The province has only a total requirement of six megawatts of power for its households, offices, resorts among others. Part of the firm’s plan is to sell the excess power to other power distribution firms. In their long term plan, they want to increase the power generating capacity of the windmills from 54 megawatts to 200 megawatts.
The wind power farm project will also become an additional tourist attraction in the province similar to that of Ilocos Norte. The tourists will have a chance to see wind mills providing power to the entire province.
“It’s a different sight aside from the different resorts and other tourist spots in the province,” said Nava.