2ND WIND ENERGY FORUM Highlights Collaborative Efforts and Developments in the Offshore Wind Industry in the Philippines
On 14 June 2024, NordCham Philippines, in partnership with NIRAS, the Embassy of Denmark in the Philippines, and the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), hosted the 2nd Wind Energy Forum: Offshore Wind in the Philippines at Makati Diamond Residences. The event was attended by representatives from private and government agencies, the academe, and various organizations involved in the offshore wind energy and sustainability sectors in the Philippines.
The event started with a speech by Maan Yu, Business Partnerships and Events Manager of NordCham Philippines, followed by a keynote speech delivered via a recorded message by Senator Sherwin Gatchalian. Antti Inkinen, Managing Director of NIRAS Asia Manila, then provided an introductory speech, highlighting NIRAS's role and the importance of such events in the offshore wind energy sector.
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Following the introductory statements, Giovanni Carlo J. Bacordo, Undersecretary at the Department of Energy (DOE), started the first session with a talk on preparing ports for offshore wind energy projects in the Philippines. This was followed by a recorded presentation from Analiza Rebuelta-Teh, Undersecretary at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), who spoke on policy development in environmental regulation for offshore wind projects.
Nicholas Peter Corne, Regional Director for Environment (APAC) of NIRAS, and Kose Mae Alegre, Assistant Project Manager/Environmental Consultant at NIRAS Asia Manila, then discussed project updates for offshore wind permitting and consenting in collaboration with the Energy Transition Partnership and the Department of Energy.
Eufemio C. Buluran, Jr. from the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines discussed preparations for integrating offshore wind projects into the Philippine grid. This was followed by a Developer’s Outlook panel discussion featuring key representatives from the offshore wind energy sector, including Alma Roxas-Aguila (Corio Generation), Francis Daba (Copenhagen Offshore Partners), Bryan Lucas (First Gen Corporation), Björn Rosenberger (Triconti ECC Renewables Corporation), and Armando D. Gamboa Jr. (BlueFloat Energy).
The afternoon session began with a recorded presentation by James McCatherin, Consultant for Renewable and Sustainability Advisory (APAC) at NIRAS Taiwan, who discussed the Best Practice Report for Stakeholder Engagement and Permitting. Joyce Anne Asilo, Business Development Manager at NIRAS Asia Manila, followed with a presentation on how the academic community can play an important role in energy transition jobs.
Carlos Mendoza, Consultant at Renewable Construction Academy at Jumbo Consulting Group, then spoke about creating training and upskilling programs for offshore wind. The final presentation, delivered by Ralph Savage, Director of Global Development & Stakeholder Relations at Global Wind Organisation, focused on building bridges for workforce development.
The event concluded with closing remarks from Raoul Kubitschek, Managing Director of NIRAS Taiwan, who thanked all participants and emphasized the importance of discussing developments and updates in offshore wind energy.
This event is part of the continuing discussion towards building a successful and sustainable offshore wind industry in the Philippines. By fostering collaboration and knowledge-sharing among key stakeholders, the forum aims to position the Philippines as a leader in renewable energy, addressing both environmental and economic goals. The insights and partnerships formed here will drive future initiatives, ensuring the country's energy transition is effective and inclusive.
We at NordCham Philippines would like to thank our gold sponsors for the event, Vortex and Ben Line Agencies, for making this event a success.
