Philippines to explore offshore wind to meet energy demands

MANILA, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos has approved a plan to explore and develop the offshore wind potential as a clean and sustainable energy source, a presidential official said Wednesday.

Office of the Press Secretary officer-in-charge Undersecretary Cheloy Garafil said the president had instructed Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla and other energy officials to move forward with the offshore wind energy production initiatives of the Department of Energy (DOE).

DOE officials also proposed the creation of an Offshore Wind Development and Investment Council, composed of relevant government agencies that will serve as a one-stop shop for offshore wind developers.

The DOE said there are currently 42 approved offshore wind contracts in the Philippines, with an indicated capacity of 31,000 megawatts.

Garafil said Marcos favors the proposal but maintained that the DOE should handle the regulatory functions to streamline coordination and simplify the approval process.

According to the World Bank Group, the Philippines has 178 gigawatts of technical offshore wind potential and can deploy 40 gigawatts of offshore wind electricity by 2050.

"This is more than enough" to cover the projected peak demand the country will require by 2040 based on DOE's medium to long-term power outlook, Energy Secretary Lotilla said.

In his first state of the nation address in July, Marcos vowed that his administration would prioritize clean energy and, at the same time, tap natural gas and nuclear power to meet the Philippines' energy demands.