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PetroWind Energy Inc. (PWEI), a joint venture led by PetroGreen Energy Corp. (PGEC), has secured critical clearances that bring its Nabas-2 wind power project closer to commercial operation. The facility was recently registered with the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM), allowing it to participate in the country’s electricity trading platform.
The Independent Energy Market Operator of the Philippines (IEMOP) approved the project’s WESM registration, formally recognizing it as an additional generating facility under PWEI. This development enables the project to sell excess electricity and support supply requirements across the grid.
Prior to this, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) issued a certificate of approval to connect the facility, following successful technical and metering tests conducted with the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC). The company is now awaiting the issuance of a certificate of compliance from the ERC, a final requirement before commercial operations can begin.
Initial Power Export
The project has already entered its commissioning phase, with initial power exports to the grid recorded in early April. According to PWEI, the first electricity was generated by three Vestas wind turbines, each with a capacity of 2.2 MW.
The commissioning followed closely timed approvals from both Iemop and NGCP, enabling the facility to begin supplying power to the grid. Internal testing is ongoing, supported by the energization of a dedicated 16 MVA substation designed for the project’s second phase.
PGEC President and CEO Francisco Delfin Jr. said the commissioning marks a key step toward full operations, positioning Nabas-2 as the company’s sixth renewable energy facility.
Strategic Role In Regional Power Supply
Located adjacent to the existing 36-MW Nabas-1 wind farm, which has been operational since 2015, the Nabas-2 project expands the group’s renewable energy footprint in Aklan. The new facility is expected to play a critical role in supplying electricity to the province and supporting the growing energy demand of Boracay Island.
The project also aligns with ongoing upgrades to the Boracay-Caticlan-Nabas transmission line, enhancing the delivery of power to tourism-driven and commercial areas in the region.
Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla welcomed the project’s commissioning, noting its contribution to strengthening the Panay sub-grid. He highlighted the development as a significant addition to the power system following the January 2024 grid disruption, emphasizing the importance of new capacity in maintaining system reliability.
Policy Support
The Nabas-2 project represents an investment of approximately P2.57 billion and has received financial backing from the Development Bank of the Philippines, which extended P1.8 billion in funding. It has also been granted fiscal incentives by the Board of Investments.
Notably, the facility secured a 20-year supply contract under the Department of Energy’s first Green Energy Auction Program, making it the only wind project in the Visayas grid awarded under the initiative.
With a combined capacity of nearly 50 MW across its two phases, the Nabas wind complex demonstrates PGEC’s growing role in advancing renewable energy development in the Philippines. The addition of Nabas-2 is expected to contribute to energy security in Western Visayas while supporting national goals for clean energy expansion.
Source:
https://business.inquirer.net/452638/petrowind-lists-aklan-wind-project-phase-2-on-wesm