Alternergy Holdings Corporation has energized its 64-megawatt (MW) Alabat Wind Farm in Quezon Province, in the Philippines. According to the company, the first three turbines are generating electricity delivered to the Luzon grid, in time for the Amihan season. In another market, Germany is considering letting developers return awarded offshore wind areas.

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A first step toward commercial operations

The wind farm is among the first wind projects awarded in 2023 under the Philippine Department of Energy's second Green Energy Auction Program (GEAP 2) to reach transmission line energization. Alternergy says it is the first wind project in Quezon Province to reach this milestone under the program. The three turbines are already generating pre-commissioning revenues, while the remaining tests continue ahead of full commercial operation. According to the company, this phase confirms the readiness of the electrical systems for integrated testing and final commissioning.

Gerry Magbanua, president of Alternergy, says the company is now focused on completing the remaining testing and commissioning activities. He says the milestone brings the company closer to turning its investment into operating capacity, recurring revenue and additional clean electricity for the Luzon grid. He thanks grid operator National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), government and community partners, contractors, lenders and project partner ABC Energy.

A 37-km line and a 1.4-km sea crossing

The 37-kilometer, 69-kilovolt (kV) transmission line connects the wind farm to NGCP's Gumaca-Lopez (Hondagua) 69 kV line. According to Alternergy, it includes the first overhead sea-crossing transmission link developed for a wind power project in the Philippines. The 1.4-kilometer connection between Alabat Island and the Luzon mainland is part of the company's first inter-island transmission system. It carries the electricity generated by the wind farm to the Luzon grid.

The wind farm uses 8 MW turbines, which the company describes as the largest ever installed in Southeast Asia outside of China. Once fully operational, the facility would generate approximately 202 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of renewable electricity per year, according to Alternergy. That output would correspond to the consumption of around 218,500 households and would avoid an estimated 150,541 metric tonnes of carbon emissions per year.

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A target of one green gigawatt by 2030

Alternergy presents the energization of Alabat as another step toward its goal of developing up to "One Green Gigawatt" by 2030. The company says the project also supports the Philippine government's objective of increasing the share of renewable energy in the country's power generation mix. The 64 MW wind farm remains in the testing and commissioning phase ahead of the start of commercial operations.