Buhawind Energy Gets ECC for ~2GW Northern Luzon Offshore Wind Project

​Buhawind Energy Northern Luzon Corporation (BENLC), the joint venture of Yuchengco affiliate PetroGreen Energy Corporation (PGEC) and Danish firm Copenhagen Energy (CE), was granted by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) the pre-development environmental compliance certificate (ECC) on May 29, 2025 for its ~2 GW Northern Luzon offshore wind project.

The pre-development ECC allows BENLC to conduct geophysical, geotechnical, marine, environmental, and social surveys that are essential in characterizing the baseline physical and social conditions of the project area. These data will be needed not only in the development design of the offshore wind power facility but also in assessing potential environmental impacts to the site.

“With the pre-development ECC approval, we will now initiate the conduct of a systematic, comprehensive, and scientific study of the site’s physical and social setting that will not only meet international industry standards but provide factual basis for assessing development concerns,” declared PGEC Asst. VP for Environment and Community Relations Yrel V. Ventura.

The Northern Luzon offshore wind power project was certified last April 29, 2025 by the Department of Energy (DOE) as an energy project of national significance (EPNS), attesting to its huge potential to provide long-term energy, economic, technological, and environmental benefits for the country. The Board of Investments (BOI) likewise endorsed the project as a strategic investment that aligns with the country’s developmental agenda with the issuance of the project’s Green Lane Certificate last November 2024.
 
BuhaWind is developing three floating offshore wind farms – Northern Luzon, Northern Mindoro and East Panay. 

Northern Luzon – offshore of Ilocos Norte – will produce 2 GW of electricity and is expected to be fully operational in 2030.
Northern Mindoro – offshore of Occidental Mindoro and Batangas – will produce 1 GW of electricity and is expected to be operational in 2031.
East Panay – offshore of Iloilo and Guimaras – will produce 1 GW of electricity and is expected to be operational in 2033.

Once commissioned, the wind farms will operate year round for 30+ years .

Located 1-18 km off the coast in their respective location, the three wind farms will generate a total capacity of 4 gigawatts (GW) of power once fully commissioned. The water depths of 80 – 800 meters provide very good conditions for the implementation of floating foundation technology.

The turbine and foundation assembly will be done onshore at large port areas, then each structure will be tugged by a boat to its offshore location.