SUMMARY
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MANILA, Philippines – ODIN Energy Company Limited of Korea is investing over $2 million to put up a 120-kilowatt (kW) wind power tower in the Philippines this year.
The Korean power firm and National Power Corporation (NPC) signed on March 10 a memorandum of agreement (MOA) to formalize Odin’s investment in the Philippines.
The wind generation tower is a roof-level structural system for power generation and distribution to be installed atop buildings with at least 10 storeys and above.
Wind turbine towers are also 4 times more efficient than vertical axis-type and two times more than propeller-type in terms of generating capacity.
Korea’s wind generation tower is also suitable for communities in far-flung areas because it does not require the large-scale construction of a transmission network.
These factors enabled Odin Energy to conclude an installation agreement with NPC.
Odin Energy president Young-Mi Baek said the firm chose the Philippines as a testing model country because it is a key area in the region in terms of the energy sector.
“After this, we will spread our renewable energy technology to the rest of the world,” he said.
The NPC has yet to decide where to put up the wind tower. Among the options are Ticao Island in Masbate; Polillo Island in Quezon, and Lubang Island in Mindoro.
“This is only a 120kW facility but since it is hard to deliver fuel to a lot of islands in the Philippines this will be very helpful,” said NPC President Ma. Gladys Cruz-Sta. Rita.
Construction is targeted to start in May of this year and the wind tower is eyed to be operational by November 2015, Sta. Rita said.
NPC will provide the land where the wind tower will be put up. The state firm will also process all the permits for Odin.
“Odin will take care of everything. For now, they will own the facility but at some point later they are willing to give a share to us but we have yet to discuss that,” said Sta. Rita.
High expectations
ODIN Energy’s wind turbine tower can supply electricity at the ideal rate of P1.15 ($0.026) per kilowatt-hour (kWh), which is very promising, Sta. Rita added. NPC currently uses diesel generator facilities, with an average generation cost of P15 ($0.34) to P17 ($0.38) per kWh.
The tower can also be installed on top of residential and commercial buildings since the level of noise and vibration is below its emission standards.
“The lower floor of the tower is suitable to use as barangay health center, school, library, or community center for less privileged ones. Odin’s wind generation tower not only supplies electricity but also helps improve the quality of life in remote areas,” Baek added.
Sta. Rita expressed high expectations for the project, which presents a viable alternative to the high cost of diesel-powered electricity in the missionary areas or off-grid areas being served by the NPC’s small power utilities group (NPC-SPUG) plants.
NPC-SPUG is responsible for providing power generation and its associated power delivery systems in areas that are not connected to the grid.
NPC provides power to some 300 off-grid areas, covering 207 towns across 36 provinces. For 2015, the state firm is preparing to electrify some 700,000 more households in the country. – Rappler.com
US$1 = P44.32
P1= US$0.0226
Image from ODIN Energy’s website
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