A Tidal power plant would be built around Capul Island. (Photo:Inyanga Marine Energy Group)
Philippine energy company Energies PH's subsidiary, San Bernardino Ocean Power, has officially signed a contract with the UK maritime engineering group Inyanga Marine Energy. They plan to build Southeast Asia's first tidal power plant in the waters surrounding Samar Island in central Philippines.
The plant will utilize Inyanga's innovative HydroWing tidal stream technology, with turbines connecting to the off-grid Capul Island in Northern Samar province. Currently, the island relies mainly on a 750 KW diesel power plant, providing electricity for only 8-16 hours per day.
Jean-Christophe Allo, Business Manager at Inyanga Marine Energy, stated that the plant will bring significant change to remote Capul and marks the first tidal energy project in Southeast Asia.
The completed plant, with an estimated capacity of around 1 MW, will also connect to microgrid with photovoltaic and energy storage facilities in its initial phase. This aims to provide a reliable, sustainable, and cost-competitive alternative to fossil fuel-based power generation.
Antonio Ver, CEO of Energies PH, expressed the hope of extending tidal power plants to other remote off-grid areas in the Philippines, emphasizing how electricity contributes to better education, healthcare, and livelihood opportunities for local communities.
Apart from Capul Island, San Bernardino Ocean Power also has plans to develop tidal power on San Antonio Island and Calintaan Island.
Inyanga Marine Energy specializes in offshore renewable energy development, particularly in tidal energy, and has established HydroWing in collaboration with Inyanga Maritime for offshore engineering projects.
