Shell Buddies up For Offshore Wind Projects in the Philippines

Shell has announced a partnership with Philippine renewable energy firm Alternergy to develop offshore wind projects in the country.

At a media briefing, Alternergy chairperson Vince Perez said the partnership is initially looking into developing an offshore wind project in Calavite Passage, which has a potential capacity of 5 gigawatts.

For the Calavite Passage projects, the companies are looking to use the Batangas Port which Shell General Manager Offshore Power for Asia Pacific Joe Nai said will help in the development of the country’s offshore wind industry, with its supporting infrastructure of ports, cranes and support vessels.

Nai added that offshore wind projects would also boost other industries as building the infrastructure would require turbines, steel, towers, electrical cables, among others, as well as the skills of designing and constructing the project.

Last week, the country’s Department of Energy Secretary Rapahel Lotilla said the agency is crafting an executive order to be signed and issued by the Marcos administration that aims to stimulate investments in offshore wind projects.

This is part of the new government’s goal of harnessing indigenous energy resources for energy security, accessible and affordable power for Filipinos and increasing the share of clean energy in the country’s energy mix.

The Shell-Alternergy partnership plans to develop 1GW of offshore wind power from the site, which is in the northwest corner of Mindoro.

Commenting on the partnership Vince Perez said: “Shell, as our strategic partner with 50 years of deep water offshore and over 20 years of offshore wind development experience, will bring in its global track record, supply chain access, and technical expertise in developing large-scale bottom-fixed and floating wind projects.”

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