Nexif Ratch Energy secures key permit for 500 MW offshore wind project in the Philippines

Nexif Ratch Energy has received preliminary environmental approval from the Philippine government to initiate technical studies for its 500 MW San Miguel Bay offshore wind project.

Share:

Nexif Ratch Energy announced on 3 March that it had secured the Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) for the pre-development phase of its San Miguel Bay offshore wind project in the Philippines. This certificate, issued by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), allows the company to begin technical and environmental studies required for site planning. The approval falls under the Philippine Environmental Impact Statement System (PEISS), which governs large-scale projects with potential environmental impacts.

This clearance authorises Nexif Ratch Energy to undertake preliminary activities including offshore geotechnical and geophysical investigations, wind and metocean measurements, as well as the establishment of environmental and social baseline data. These studies are critical to determining the technical and commercial specifications of the project, which has a planned capacity of 500 megawatts.

Strategic status confirmed by the government

In December, the San Miguel Bay project was already recognised as a nationally significant initiative through the granting of the Energy Project of National Significance (CEPNS) certificate by the Department of Energy (DOE). It has also been designated a Strategic Investment under the Green Lane Initiative of the Board of Investments (BOI), a scheme designed to accelerate administrative processing for high-value energy developments.

The development of the San Miguel Bay site is part of Nexif Ratch Energy’s broader efforts in the archipelago. The company is also pursuing the same ECC approval for a second offshore wind project of 475 MW located in Lucena, Quezon Province. This project obtained the CEPNS in January 2025, reinforcing its eligibility for the fifth Green Energy Auction (GEA-5), scheduled for the third quarter.

Preparations underway for upcoming national auction

By securing these regulatory approvals, Nexif Ratch Energy positions itself ahead of the upcoming tender process conducted by the DOE, which will determine new capacity additions to the national grid. The GEA-5 offers developers the opportunity to secure long-term power purchase agreements underwritten by the state.

Company officials welcomed the collaboration with Philippine authorities in progressing regulatory procedures. They emphasised the strategic relevance of both projects for national energy diversification planning and for establishing a nascent offshore wind sector in the region.

Ecopetrol S.A. finalises the acquisition of Wind Autogeneración from Enel S.A.S., thereby taking over the Windpeshi wind project in Colombia, with a planned capacity of 205 MW, aimed at the Colombian oil group's energy self-consumption.
Oceanic Wind Energy Inc. and Coast Tsimshian Enterprises Ltd. secured an exclusive investigative use permit in the Hecate Strait, paving the way for Canada's first major offshore wind project, targeting capacity of up to 700 MW.
German manufacturer Nordex will supply 13 N163/6.X wind turbines to developer SAB WindTeam for a 91 MW wind farm in Brandenburg, with commissioning scheduled for early 2027 and an extended 20-year service agreement.
EDF is delaying the start-up of the Calvados offshore wind farm by more than two years, citing extended adjustments to a drilling tool vital for installing the sixty-four monopile foundations off Courseulles-sur-Mer.
German company NeXtWind signs historic €1.4 billion debt financing to accelerate expansion and modernisation of its onshore wind farms and reach a total capacity of 3 GW by 2028.
Energy company TGS has won a major high-resolution geophysical imaging contract for offshore wind site characterization in Norway, strengthening its position in this rapidly growing market.
Iberdrola Australia secures crucial approval from Australian authorities to begin metocean studies for its 3GW Aurora Green offshore project off the coast of Victoria, marking a decisive stage in its development.
ENGIE begins full operation of the Red Sea Wind Energy wind farm in Egypt, increasing its capacity to 650 MW, four months ahead of schedule, now powering over one million homes in the region.
Tokyo Gas, through TOWII Renewables, a joint venture with EWII, purchases two onshore wind projects developed by Finnish company Puhuri, totalling 74.4 MW, marking its expansion beyond the Danish market.
The European Investment Bank grants EWE AG historic €450mn financing for the installation of 2,600 km of underground power lines and the upgrade of over 1,100 substations in Lower Saxony.
Japan’s Ministry of Industry and Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy launch a strategic partnership to develop local offshore wind supply chains and strengthen the country's industrial competitiveness in this energy sector.
Energiekontor AG confirms financial close for the Nartum wind farm, adding 23 megawatts to its owned portfolio and starting the construction phase in the Rotenburg district, Lower Saxony.
Airloom Energy begins construction of a pilot site in Wyoming to test an innovative turbine aimed at enhancing American energy security in the face of anticipated growth in electricity demand.
ACCIONA Energía transfers the San Juan de Marcona wind farm to Luz del Sur S.A.A., a major player in Peru's energy sector, for up to USD 253 million, pending necessary regulatory approvals.
German operator Encavis AG strengthens its portfolio by acquiring two wind farms in Lower Saxony and Saxony, totalling 59 MW, in a transaction with Energiequelle GmbH, thereby expanding its renewable energy assets.
Ocergy officially launches an industrial project aiming to install by 2028 a new-generation floating wind turbine of over 15 MW, in partnership with EnBW, Kyuden Mirai, and TEPCO Renewable Power.
France officially commissions its first floating wind farm, consisting of three turbines with a combined capacity of 25 megawatts, introducing strategic technology in the Mediterranean, vital for national energy goals.
Inaugurated on 20 June, the five-turbine plant of wpd onshore France feeds 18 MW into the grid and unlocks new tax revenue for four Côtes-d’Armor municipalities.
Statkraft refocuses investments on flexible Nordic hydropower and reduces commitments in offshore wind and hydrogen to lower operating costs, amid an uncertain economic environment and pressured profitability.
Suzlon Group receives third consecutive order from AMPIN Energy Transition to supply 170.1 MW of wind turbines for a project in India's Andhra Pradesh state, strengthening their strategic industrial partnership.