The Department of Energy (DOE) said the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) has formally expressed its support to initiate the detailed engineering designs and take immediate steps to repurpose three priority ports to ensure that they are fully equipped to handle the installation, commissioning and operational requirements of offshore wind (OSW) energy projects.

The parties said in a statement yesterday the initial ports to be improved are the Port of Currimao in Ilocos Norte, and the Port of Batangas in Sta. Clara, Batangas City and Port of Jose Panganiban in Camarines Norte given their proximity to high-potential offshore wind energy service contracts (OWESCs).

DOE said the move is expected to further increase the country’s renewable energy (RE) capacity apart from positioning as a leader in OSW development in the region.

The agency said the Port of Currimao is positioned near 13 OWESCs and can support a potential total capacity of 9,489 megawatts (MW) with three service contracts already in the advanced pre-development stage.

Meanwhile, the Port of Batangas is located close to 29 OWESCs with a combined potential capacity of 24,300 MW with six projects in the advanced stages of pre-development, including permitting, licensing and data gathering.

As for the Port of Jose Panganiban, the DOE said it is situated near 14 OWESCs with a potential capacity of 8,150 MW with two projects in the advanced pre-development phase.

Jay Santiago, PPA general manager, said in a letter addressed to the DOE that they will be responsible for the feasibility study and infrastructure development of these identified ports.

As for DOE Secretary Raphael Lotilla, these ports will serve as vital logistical hubs throughout the lifecycle of OSW projects from installation to commissioning and decommissioning. 

Lotilla added that upgrading these facilities ensures that the Philippines is ready to accommodate the increasing demands of OSW projects, which are expected to deliver significant contributions to the country’s energy security and economic stability.

“By modernizing these strategic ports, we are not only addressing the immediate needs of OSW development but also laying the foundation for long-term job creation and sustained growth in the renewable energy sector,” Lotilla said.

The DOE said that as of August 15, 2024, its total awarded OSW contracts are at 92 equivalent to a capacity of 66,101 MW.

Of the 92 contracts, four were awarded to 100 percent foreign-owned companies. 

However, all these OWESCs are currently in the pre-development stage, where assessments on resources, site suitability and project viability are being undertaken.

So far, there is a study that identified that the Philippines’ total technical potential for OSW is estimated at 178,000 MW.