By Juzel L. Danganan
MANILA, Feb. 19 (PNA) — The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has awarded a Certificate of Compliance (COC) to the Energy Development Corporation (EDC) for the operation of its 150-megawatt (MW) Burgos Wind Project in Iloco Norte.
”The ERC approved the application of the 150-MW Burgos Wind Project (BWP) for a Certificate of Compliance (COC) on February 9, 2015,” EDC said in a statement Thursday.
EDC President and Chief Operating Officer Richard Tantoco praised the policy enforcement of the ERC, saying it helps encourage more Renewable Energy investments.
“The transparent and predictable regulatory regime we have in the Philippines should encourage more players to pursue much needed Renewable Energy investments in the country… We badly need RE to help us become less reliant on volatile imports,” he said.
Tantoco noted the tapping of RE power will help in the country’s lack of fuel reserves — oil, natural gas and coal — which are used for power plant fuel. It will lessen the country’s dependence on imported fuels.
The EDC president said the Burgos Wind Project will assist in powering the Luzon grid, through clean and reliable power, amidst the foreseen energy reserve deficit during the dry season.
EDC recalled that the ERC gave the Burgos Wind Project Provisional Authority to Operate on Dec. 18, 2014, subsequently after it was granted by the Department of Energy (DOE) with a Certificate of Endorsement (COE) for Feed-in-Tariff (FiT).
The Burgos Wind Project is the first wind-related energy project pursued by EDC. It consists of 50 units of Vestas V90 wind turbine generators, with a power of 3-MW each.
EDC said the plant has a capability to produce 370-Gigawatthours (GWh) in a year.
Its project cost amounted to USD450 million, financed through a loan worth USD315 million from both local and foreign banks and EDC equity of USD135 million.
Since the plant operates through RE, it will avoid an estimated 200,000 tons of carbon emissions.
EDC is one of the world’s largest geothermal energy companies, with investments reaching other countries such as Peru, Chile and Indonesia.
Its local plants include the Bacman Geothermal Production Field, Mindanao Geothermal Production Field, Northern Negros Geothermal Production Field, Southern Negros Geothermal Production Field and the Leyte Geothermal Production Field. (PNA)