Alternergy energizes Alabat Wind Farm in time for Amihan
First wind turbines now generating electricity in time for Amihan season
Among the first wind projects energized under the DOE’s GEAP 2, awarded in 2023
Project includes a 37-kilometer, 69-kV transmission line and Alternergy’s first inter-island connection featuring a unique 1.4-kilometer sea crossing
64 MW wind project advances toward commissioning and commercial operations
Project features the largest 8 MW wind turbines ever erected outside of China
Alternergy Holdings Corporation (“PSE: ALTER”), a Philippine pioneer in renewable power development, has successfully energized its 64-megawatt (MW) Alabat Wind Farm in Quezon Province, with its first wind turbines now generating electricity and delivering clean power to the Luzon grid in time for the Amihan season.
The Alabat Wind Farm is among the first wind projects awarded under the Department of Energy's second Green Energy Auction Program (GEAP 2) to achieve transmission line energization. It is also the first wind project in Quezon Province to reach this milestone under the program.
The milestone covers the successful energization of the first three wind turbines, which are now spinning and generating pre-commissioning revenues, as well as its extensive 37- kilometer, 69-kilovolt (kV) transmission line connecting the wind farm to the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines’ (NGCP) Gumaca-Lopez (Hondagua) 69 kV transmission line.
Energization marks a critical step toward commercial operations, confirming the readiness of the project’s electrical systems for integrated testing and final commissioning. It also enables the project to begin generating electricity and earning pre-commissioning revenues while completing the remaining tests required before full commercial operation.
A key component of the transmission facilities is the Philippines' first overhead sea-crossing transmission link developed for a wind power project. The 1.4-kilometer overhead connection between Alabat Island and the Luzon mainland forms part of Alternergy’s first inter-island transmission system and enables power generated by the wind farm to be delivered to the Luzon grid.
"With the Alabat Wind Farm now energized and generating electricity, our focus is on completing the remaining testing and commissioning activities needed to bring Alabat into commercial operations," said Gerry Magbanua, president of Alternergy Holdings Corporation. "This milestone brings us closer to transforming our investment in the project into operating capacity, recurring revenue, and additional clean energy for the Luzon grid."
The wind farm features 8 MW wind turbines, the largest wind turbines ever installed in Southeast Asia outside of China. Once fully operational, the facility is expected to generate approximately 202 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of renewable electricity annually, enough to power around 218,500 households while avoiding an estimated 150,541 metric tonnes of carbon emissions each year.
"We thank NGCP, our government and community partners, our contractors, our lenders, and our project partner, ABC Energy, for helping us achieve this important milestone. Their continued support and collaboration will be vital as we complete the remaining work toward commercial operations,” Mr. Magbanua added.
The successful energization of the Alabat Wind Farm marks another significant step toward Alternergy’s goal of developing up to One Green Gigawatt by 2030 while supporting the Philippine government’s objective of increasing the share of renewable energy in the country’s power generation mix.
