Ilocos Norte offshore wind project cleared for baseline surveys

PetroEnergy Resources Corp. (PERC), through its joint venture Buhawind Energy Northern Luzon Corp. (BENLC), has secured a pre-development Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for its Northern Luzon offshore wind (OSW) project in Ilocos Norte.

The ECC allows BENLC to proceed with critical baseline studies, including geophysical, geotechnical, environmental, and social surveys, that will determine the physical and social viability of the proposed development site. These studies are considered essential for assessing the feasibility and environmental impact of the approximately two-gigawatt (GW) offshore wind power facility.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange on Monday, PetroEnergy said the ECC serves as an important step in advancing the project to potential construction, depending on the outcome of the surveys.

“These data will be needed not only in the development design of the OSW power facility but also in assessing potential environmental impacts to the site,” the company said in a statement.

BENLC is a joint venture between PetroGreen Energy Corp. (PGEC), a subsidiary of PERC, and Denmark-based Copenhagen Energy (CE), which brings international expertise in offshore and onshore wind and solar power development.

PGEC Assistant Vice President for Environment and Community Yrel Ventura said the ECC would enable the initiation of a systematic, scientific assessment of the project site, aligned with global standards and practices. “This process will provide a factual basis for addressing potential development concerns,” Ventura noted.

The Northern Luzon OSW project previously received the Energy Project of National Significance (EPNS) certification from the Department of Energy (DOE) in April, which ensures faster regulatory processing. In November, the project also obtained a green lane certification from the Board of Investments (BOI), providing further support for its expedited development.

In addition to the Ilocos Norte project, BENLC and CE are exploring other OSW developments across the country, including proposed wind farms in Northern Mindoro and East Panay. Together, the projects aim to contribute a total of up to 4 GW to the Philippines’ renewable energy portfolio.