Quezon City, Philippines—Delegates representing the Albay Renewables Technical Working Group secured partnerships at the 2nd Philippines Onshore Offshore Wind & Energy Storage Summit 2024, held on March 14-15 at the Sheraton Manila Bay in Manila. Investors, developers, and field experts gathered at the summit to discuss the latest opportunities in wind energy, which is swiftly becoming a reliable powerhouse of renewable energy.

The summit was attended by more than 250 wind energy professionals from government agencies, big energy companies, banks, and sustainable development organizations. 

The delegates were led by the Philippine Movement for Climate Justice (PMCJ), partners of the Albay provincial government in transitioning to 100% renewable energy. They shared the province’s plans to utilize its 502-megawatt potential for wind energy, which includes sites in Libon, Oas, Ligao, Guinobatan, Camalig, Daraga, Pio Duran, Legaspi, Batan, and Rapu-Rapu. Wind will be supplemented by 486MW of solar energy, bolstering the province’s RE output by roughly 1 Gigawatt.

The engagements at the summit will bring in more partnerships leading up to the RE Investments Summit to be held on August 27 and 28, 2024, hosted by the Albay provincial government. Investors are expected to meet with the local officials and project developers to discuss socioeconomic development opportunities arising from the Bicol region’s great RE potential.

Partners who have committed their support to the RE Investment Summit include Lloyd Cameron, the Economic and Climate Counsellor of the British Embassy, and Luc Véron, ambassador of the European Union who visited Albay earlier this month. Triconti Windkraft, which has a wind project in San Miguel Bay in Camarines Sur, has also indicated their participation in the summit. 

The summit and these partnerships build momentum for the Albay government’s plans to unleash the Bicol region’s 10GW potential by 2030, which will establish it as a renewable energy hub in Luzon. “Wind energy alone can generate 502MW for one province. How much more potential can we unlock as we commit more of our efforts to this clean and infinite resource?” said Larry Pascua, Senior Energy Campaign Officer of PMCJ.

“With long-term planning by the government, partnerships with local and foreign investors, the right financial and business models, we can generate more than enough clean and reliable energy to power entire regions and more.”

The provincial government of Albay formalized its partnership with PMCJ on February 22, 2024, preceding the governor’s declaration of climate emergency back in October 2023. A technical working group has already been formed and the groups are developing the RE roadmap.

FOR INQUIRIES

Raymond Ruedas (mediacommunications@climatejustice.ph) 09274382015