Largest offshore wind power project secured in the Philippines

The Blue Circle and CleanTech Global Renewable, Inc. have signed the largest offshore wind energy service contract of the Philippines

The Blue Circle and its partner CleanTech Global Renewables, Inc. have signed their first wind energy service contract for an offshore wind project in the Philippines with the 1.2 GW project in Bulalacao, Oriental Mindoro.

Despite the current pandemic situation which has affected the approval of wind power projects in the Philippines, The Blue Circle and CleanTech have succeeded in securing the exclusivity for the Bulalacao site development through a service contract in a competitive context. The planned one-hundred turbines with a unit capacity of 12 MW for a total of 1200 MW will constitute the largest offshore wind project of the country. This is in concordance with the roadmap being prepared by the Philippines Department of Energy under the assistance of the World Bank Group, which has estimated that the potential of offshore wind power in the Philippines is over 170 GW and has selected Oriental Mindoro as the best offshore wind site of the country.

According to the government's Clean Energy Scenario (CES) outlined in the Philippines Energy Plan 2020-2040, the archipelago needs to add at least 92 GW of renewable energy to its energy mix by 2040 to reach the 50% mark for renewable energy share. Some 11.8 GW are expected to be sourced from various types of wind projects. In order to meet the CES goals, UK’s BVG Associates (BVGA) estimated that the Philippines will need to be operating four large offshore projects by 2040. Under the high-growth scenario, the Philippine potential for offshore wind is 20 GW by 2040 and 40 GW by 2050.

“After spending many years developing onshore wind projects in the Philippines, I am very excited by the promising Bulalacao offshore potential. This site is ideally situated outside of major environmental constraints, away from the direct typhoon hit zone and with high winds in shallow to medium depth waters. The Blue Circle has a strong team of wind energy professionals with experience in developing and operating wind power projects across the ASEAN region. We are committed to developing this site and take part in the Philippines’ government efforts to meet its carbon emissions reduction target and prepare the country for more sustainable and greener future expansion. We are looking forward to working closely with our partner Cleantech Global Renewables, Inc. to harness the country’s best wind resources, to power economic growth by creating green jobs while preserving the environment.“, said Olivier Duguet, Chief Executive Officer at The Blue Circle.

“Cleantech Global Renewables, Inc. has strongly pushed for the adoption of new technologies and best practices to grow our renewables assets with the continuous support to pursue innovation from partners like The Blue Circle. The Bulalacao offshore project will incur a limited environmental footprint in a very favorable landscape for wind power potential. The project, whose landbank reaches approximately 40,095 hectares, will be of a significant size for both floating and bottom fixed wind turbines. I am enthusiastic and eager to build this major stepping stone towards our country’s sustainable development and energy independence.”, added Aboy Castro, Chief Executive Officer at Cleantech Global Renewables, Inc.

 
About The Blue Circle

Founded in 2013, The Blue Circle identifies, develops, finances, owns and operates renewable energy projects in complex and challenging geographies in the Asia-Pacific region. The Blue Circle uses the most advanced technology to build responsible and sustainable projects. With offices in Singapore, Ho Chi Minh City, Bangkok, Manila and Phnom Penh, The Blue Circle is the leading renewable energy company of Southeast Asia. Its team is committed to changing the world one green electron at a time.

https://www.thebluecircle.sg/

About CleanTech Global Renewables

Cleantech is an independent power producer and renewable electricity developer in the Philippines. CleanTech supports the country’s drive for energy security by developing, acquiring, constructing, owning, and operating clean and renewable energy projects.

https://www.cleantech.ph/

For further information, please contact:

The Blue Circle

Amaury Brucker

Tel: +855 11 842 973

amaury.brucker@thebluecircle.sg

CleanTech Global Renewables Inc.

Edwin R. Almario

Tel: +63 977 853 4455

edwin.almario@cleantech.ph

The Blue Circle installs the first Spidar in Cambodia

The Blue Circle installs the first Spidar in Cambodia

The Blue Circle has installed the NRG SPIDAR Vertical Profiler, first of its kind in Cambodia for its Mondulkiri Wind Project (80 MW). This LIDAR technology gives wind measurements data ideal for further validation of the wind resource, wind farm operations, forecasting, research, and meteorological applications.

The SPIDAR helps with the assessment of the annual energy production potential when prospecting for a project site location, which in this case has been established in the Mondulkiri Province.

The new equipment will serve to verify the wind shear profile above the 120m meteorological tower already in place over the course of the coming years. The SPIDAR will reduce the horizontal uncertainty across the project by being moved to points of interest elsewhere on the project site after a period of calibration.

“This is the first time such a sophisticated technology is installed in Cambodia. We hope that the results of the measurement campaign will positively contribute to the country’s energy mix planification and journey towards a low carbon future” stated Somatra Kim, new Country Director of The Blue Circle Cambodia.

“The installation of the SPIDAR is in continuation of more than 24 months of wind data measurement with our meteorological mast installed in August 2019. It will serve to further determine the potential of the wind resource of the Mondulkiri region. The SPIDAR is an exciting tool that will allow The Blue Circle to confirm the energy load profile of wind power in the project’s location, which currently indicates that most of the energy would be generated during the dry season. We hope to continue to demonstrate the viability of our project in the Mondulkiri region thanks to our new infrastructure.”, said Gilles Beau, Wind Engineering Manager.

About The Blue Circle

Founded in 2013, The Blue Circle identifies, develops, finances, owns and operates renewable energy projects in complex and challenging geographies in the Asia-Pacific region. The Blue Circle uses the most advanced technology to build responsible and sustainable projects. With offices in Singapore, Ho Chi Minh City, Bangkok and Phnom Penh, The Blue Circle is the leading renewable energy company of Southeast Asia. Its team is committed to changing the world one green electron at a time.

For further information, please contact:

The Blue Circle

Amaury Brucker   Tel:  +855 842 973         amaury.brucker@thebluecircle.sg      

ACEN and The Blue Circle reach Commercial Operations for the Mui Ne Phase 2 Project

ACEN and THE BLUE CIRCLE reach Commercial Operations for the Mui Ne Phase 2 Project

• 40 MW wind farm qualifies for Vietnam feed-in-tariff of 8.5 US cents per kWh

• Approximately 130,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions will be avoided annually, contributing to a cleaner energy mix for the country

The Blue Circle and its partner, ACEN, the listed energy platform of the Ayala Group, have completed Phase 2 of the Mui Ne Project in the Binh Thuan Province of South Vietnam.

“We are very pleased to have been able to build, connect and reach commercial operations of this second phase of our Mui Ne site. 2021 has been undeniably a record year for the expansion of wind power in Vietnam and we are proud to have contributed with this project” stated Olivier Duguet, Chief Executive Officer of The Blue Circle.

The eight turbines, with a unit capacity of 5.0 MW for a total of 40 MW, carry the largest rotor diameter for an onshore wind project in Asia (158 meters) and are the first to use blades in two pieces assembled on site. Construction was completed after only eight months with over 450 construction staff involved in the difficult context of COVID-19 throughout the construction process.

“This two-pieces blade technology is a game-changer for onshore sites as it will allow larger capacity machines, lowering our cost of energy and enhancing competitiveness of wind energy. I am proud of our team for managing to achieve the project construction in time while facing exceptional constraints during a global pandemic,” said Hervé Grillot, Chief Operating Officer of The Blue Circle.

The Mui Ne Wind Project site has a total expansion potential of up to 170 MW in one of the best wind resource areas in continental Vietnam. The project’s estimated cost is around US$ 70 million, which is financed by debt and equity, and has qualified for the wind feed-in-tariff of 8.5 US cents per kWh. It is assumed that roughly 130,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions will be avoided annually, contributing to a cleaner energy mix for the country.

“We are delighted by the completion of Phase 2 of the Mui Ne Project, and the overall progress made in expanding our renewables presence in Vietnam. We are thankful to our long-standing partners at The Blue Circle for seeing this project through amidst the pandemic, and we are encouraged that ACEN’s other partnerships across Vietnam will likewise bring to fruition more renewable energy projects in the country,” said Patrice Clausse, Head of International Group of ACEN.

The Blue Circle will manage operations through an Asset Management Services contract.

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About The Blue Circle

Founded in 2013, The Blue Circle identifies, develops, finances, owns and operates renewable energy projects in complex and challenging geographies in the Asia-Pacific region. The Blue Circle uses the most advanced technology to build responsible and sustainable projects. With offices in Singapore, Ho Chi Minh City, Bangkok and Phnom Penh, The Blue Circle is the leading renewable energy development company of Southeast Asia. Its team is committed to changing the world one green electron at a time.

www.thebluecircle.sg

About ACEN

ACEN is the listed energy platform of the Ayala Group. The company has ~2,900 MW of attributable capacity in the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, India, and Australia. The company’s renewable share of capacity is at ~80%, among the highest in the region.

ACEN’s aspiration is to be the largest listed renewables platform in Southeast Asia, with a goal of reaching 5,000 MW of renewables capacity by 2025. On October 21, 2021, ACEN announced its commitment to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

www.acenergy.com.ph

For inquiries and more information, please contact:

The Blue Circle

Amaury BRUCKER

Tel: +855 11 842 973

amaury.brucker@thebluecircle.sg

ACEN

Irene Maranan

Head – Corporate Communications and Sustainability

Email :  maranan.is@acenergy.com.ph

The Blue Circle celebrates SFE's 20th birthday

Twenty years ago, the pioneers of wind power

On November 13th 2001, in Paris- France, was incorporated the Societe Francaise d’Éoliennes (SFE- French Windmill Company) by Olivier Duguet. Following the first wind power Feed-in-Tariff established in June 2001, France was just about to embark on the growth story of wind energy. From less than 150 MW installed at that time, wind installed capacity reached 757 MW in 2005 and 2,454 MW in 2007. Societe Francaise d’Eoliennes followed the same trajectory, building its first 9 MW project at Saint Crépin (Charente Maritime - Midwest of France) in 2004, being the first Independent Power Producer to reach 100MW installed in 2007. “The turbines were much smaller at that time” details Olivier Duguet. “At SFE, we have installed 850kW turbines as well as the first 1.5MW turbines in France with 77 meters rotor diameter. When we built the first 2MW-90 meters rotor diameter turbines in the East of France in 2007, they seemed to us the maximum size and capacity technology could reach… The standard wind measuring campaigns were using 40 meters masts by that time and the banks were reluctant to lend for more than 10 years…”remember Olivier Duguet.

Nevertheless this has not stopped Olivier to become one of the French wind energy pioneers, along with Jean-Michel Germa (La Compagnie du Vent) and Jean-Yves Grandidier (Valorem). “In 1999, while visiting the Wind Turbine Technology Test Center of Bremerhaven in Germany, I realized the potential of wind to be a real industrial sector in the XXIst century…” acknowledges Olivier. Since then, the wind power sector has created 22.600 direct jobs in France and 1.2 million worldwide, global installed wind generation capacity has been multiplied by 100 in the last 20 years to reach 751GW in 2020 according to IRENA latest’s data. Even if harnessing the energy of the wind seems a first obvious choice to fight CO2 emissions and global warming in this COP 26 year, it has never been an easy task. Ever changing regulation and permitting conditions are most often cited as major obstacles for wind power projects development which take at least 3-4 years before reaching construction stage.

“For all of us who have been dreaming of changing the world for so many years, it is a great satisfaction to see now wind power becoming mainstream, competing without subsidies against fossil fuels and being one of the pillars of a Net Zero Carbon world” adds Olivier. His new venture, The Blue Circle, headquartered in Singapore, has continued pioneering wind power in Southeast Asia since 2013.

About The Blue Circle

Founded in 2013, The Blue Circle identifies, develops, finances, owns and operates renewable energy projects in the Asia-Pacific region. The Blue Circle uses the most advanced technology to build responsible and sustainable projects. With offices in Singapore, Ho Chi Minh City, Bangkok and Phnom Penh, The Blue Circle is the leading renewable energy development company of Southeast Asia. Its team is committed to changing the world one green electron at a time.

For further information, please contact:

The Blue Circle

Amaury Brucker   Tel:  +855 842 973         amaury.brucker@thebluecircle.sg  

The Blue Circle welcomes new Country Director for Cambodia

The Blue Circle is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr Somatra Kim as its new Country Director for Cambodia effective from 1st November 2021.

“We are very pleased to announce Somatra Kim’s promotion to The Blue Circle’s new Country Director for Cambodia. He will bring invaluable experience as well as extensive development expertise at a pivotal moment for the acceleration of Renewable Energy implementation across Southeast Asia” said Olivier Duguet, Chairman and CEO of The Blue Circle.

“The Blue Circle has a strong team of professionals with knowledge of wind power and experience in developing wind power projects across the region. The Blue Circle Cambodia is committed to being a part of the effort by the Royal Government of Cambodia to meet its carbon emissions reduction target and prepare the country for more sustainable and greener growth. As the new head of the Cambodian team, I am looking forward to working closely with all relevant institutions, namely EDC, EAC, MME, MEF and MOE to bring wind turbines to the Cambodian soil and to harness our country’s wind resource to power industries, modernity, and overall economic development with no impact on the environment.” added Somatra Kim.

Somatra worked as a university lecturer and researcher in Phnom Penh, Cambodia until 2015 when he joined the Chip Mong Group as Business Development Manager. He also worked as a policy manager for 3i Cambodia to develop a financial market for infrastructure project financing. He joined The Blue Circle as the Development Manager for Cambodia in May 2021.

Somatra holds an MA in Communications and an MA in economics in 2005 from Ohio University, USA. He holds a PhD in Human Geography looking at resource governance policy in 2013 from The University of Sydney, Australia.

About The Blue Circle

Founded in 2013, The Blue Circle identifies, develops, finances, owns and operates renewable energy projects in complex and challenging geographies in the Asia-Pacific region. The Blue Circle uses the most advanced technology to build responsible and sustainable projects. With offices in Singapore, Ho Chi Minh City, Bangkok and Phnom Penh, The Blue Circle is the leading renewable energy company of Southeast Asia. Its team is committed to changing the world one green electron at a time.

For further information, please contact:

The Blue Circle

Amaury Brucker   Tel:  +855 842 973         amaury.brucker@thebluecircle.sg