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A STUDY identifying the most suitable sites for offshore wind projects is expected to be released “very soon,” the US Agency for International Development (USAID) said.  

“We are in the process and waiting for the results of the marine spatial planning study which would basically define eligible areas for offshore wind. We hope that comes out very soon,” Divina B. Chingcuanco, chief of party of the USAID Energy Secure Philippines program, said at an energy forum last week. 

The study, which is expected to provide guidance on how to integrate offshore wind energy with the power grid, is expected to be released by the first quarter of 2024, she said.

The Energy department has said that 79 offshore wind service contracts were awarded this year with a combined capacity of 61.93 gigawatts (GW). The government’s Offshore Wind Roadmap estimates a Philippine potential capacity of 178 GW in offshore wind resources.

In October, the Department of Energy and the Asian Development Bank identified at least nine ports including Iloilo City which can be repurposed to service offshore wind operations.

“We have requested local government units (LGUs) to identify potential sources of renewable energy. The LGUs are now actually looking into that, they are now considering and identifying areas,” said Rolando B. Distura a board member for Iloilo province. — Ashley Erika O. Jose

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