Europeans tapped to hasten 1.5GW wind energy rollout

Local wind power developer Triconti Windkraft Group has partnered with a Europe-based investor to expedite the completion of its two projects in Luzon and the Visayas with as much as 1.5 gigawatts of combined capacities.

The company said Friday that its new partner, Sea Wind Holding AG, a Liechtenstein-based company, will support the development of Frontera, a project outside Manila Bay bordering the provinces of Cavite and Bataan, and Guimaras Strait along the shores of Negros Occidental.

Triconti said these "first-mover projects" are anticipated to provide clean and reliable electricity to more than one million Filipino households.

"The partnership leverages Seawind's extensive know-how and experience in offshore wind development in Europe with Triconti's deep local knowledge and strong network in the country," Triconti Windkraft CEO, Lila Rosenberger said. "Furthermore, the offshore wind industry has the potential to create thousands of highly skilled jobs for Filipinos and build a new local industry."

Clean energy initiatives

Meanwhile, Fritz Kaiser, Sea Wind Holding AG chairman, reiterated that the company's investment will also support the government's clean energy initiatives.

Triconti Windkraft Group is a Filipino-Swiss joint venture that develops wind energy projects from greenfield to construction. With a combined portfolio of 4 GW of onshore and offshore wind projects in the pipeline, it is one of the largest independent wind developers in the country.

On the other hand, Sea Wind Holding AG is part of the Fritz Kaiser Group and invests in the development and realization of wind energy projects, especially in the field of offshore wind energy.

Offshore wind potential

Based on the Philippines Offshore Wind Roadmap launched in 2022, the country has about 178 GW of offshore wind potential.

To date, the Department of Energy has awarded a total of 79 OSW Contracts with a total potential capacity of 61.931 GW — spread mainly North of Luzon, West of Metro Manila, North and South of Mindoro, Panay and Guimaras Strait.