ARI in troika to build Visayas wind project

Aboitiz Renewables Inc. or ARI, the renewable energy arm of Aboitiz Power Corp., Singapore-headquartered Vena Energy, and Cebu-based Vivant Energy Corp., have teamed up to develop, build, and operate a 200-megawatt or MW wind project in the Visayas.

The project, dubbed as San Isidro Wind Power Project, will be built in San Isidro, a fourth-class coastal municipality in the Province of Northern Samar. It will be undertaken by the joint venture company that the parties formed called Lihangin Wind Energy Corp.

Construction starts Q4 2023

As disclosed in the separate stock reports of ARI and Vivant Energy on Wednesday, which are both publicly listed companies, the wind plant will begin construction within the last quarter of the year. It is scheduled to be completed by early 2025.

"We are excited to partner with Vena Energy and Vivant Energy so that together, we can contribute to the Philippines' clean energy aspirations. This undertaking demonstrates ARI's progress in growing its renewable energy capacity to 4,600 MW," ARI president and chief operating officer James Arnold Villaroman.

"Each of these investments is an important step to achieving a 50:50 balance in our renewable and thermal portfolios. We are very excited about these opportunities to contribute to the country's energy transition journey," he added.

Meanwhile, Emil Andre Garcia, president and COO of Vivant Energy, reiterated that their undertaking will "bring us closer to the goal to expand our RE portfolio to 30 percent by 2030."

"We welcome this opportunity to partner with two leaders in renewable energy development who share our vision of helping the country attain energy security while promoting renewable energy and contributing to countrywide development," Garcia said.

Most diversified

AboitizPower presently has the largest and most diversified local renewable energy platform in terms of installed capacity under its operational control. Currently, close to 1,000 MW of renewable energy projects — including wind and solar farms and more geothermal capacities — are in its pipeline.