(PHILIPPINE INFORMATION AGENCY-EASTERN VISAYAS)
A first in Southeast Asia
TACLOBAN CITY – A remote island town in Northern Samar is set to become the home of the first tidal power facility not only in the Philippines but also in the entire Southeast Asia region.
The tidal power facility will be constructed in Capul town by Energies Ph Inc. through its affiliate, San Bernardino Ocean Power Corp., Jan Allen Berbon, head of the Provincial Economic and Development Investment Promotion Office, said on Saturday (Feb. 17).
“Tidal power in Northern Samar will not only generate jobs and benefit the environment but also contribute to energy stability and help reduce prices,” he said.
Tidal power harnesses energy from the natural rise and fall of tides, caused by the gravitational interaction between the Earth, the sun, and the moon. Tidal currents, which carry sufficient energy for harvesting, occur when water passes through a constriction, accelerating the flow.
Capul was selected as the pilot area for the tidal power project due to its strategic location along the San Bernardino Strait, known for its strong ocean currents, the primary source of tidal energy.
Energies Ph Inc. awarded the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contract for the one-megawatt project to the United Kingdom-based Inyanga Marine Energy Group.
Inyanga is renowned for its involvement in global offshore renewable projects and operates two divisions: tidal energy technology development with HydroWing and offshore engineering and installation with Inyanga Maritime.
Jean Christophe Allo, Inyanga’s commercial manager, stated that HydroWing tidal stream technology will be employed to generate tidal power, ensuring continuous power supply 24/7.
Currently, Capul, known for its significant role in the Galleon Trade during the Spanish era, relies on a 750-kilowatt diesel power plant operating for 16 hours a day, Berbon, who also serves as the provincial information officer, said.
Officials from Energies Ph Inc. are scheduled to meet with Governor Edwin Ongchuan next month to further discuss the project, which is expected to not only bolster the province’s power supply but also create job opportunities for locals.
Inyanga lauded tidal stream energy as the most predictable and reliable form of renewable energy, with its HydroWing technology representing the pinnacle of innovation, offering a cost-effective solution for harnessing ocean tides. HydroWing is currently Inyanga’s largest tidal stream development project in Wales, England.
In addition to the tidal power project, groundworks for the San Isidro On-Shore Wind project, led by Aboitiz Renewables Inc. and Vena Energy, have commenced, while the North Samar Offshore Wind Power Project by Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) is in the pre-development phase, with ground investigations initiated earlier this year.
Northern Samar Electric Cooperative (Norsamelco), the main power cooperative of the province, gets its supply needs from Filinvest Development Corporation Misamis Power Corp. (FDCMPC) and WESM (Wholesale Electricity Spot Market) and with current customer connections of about 66,173.
JOEY A. GABIETA/ROEL T. AMAZONA
