At the signing ceremonies yesterday, Energy Secretary Angelo T. Reyes said the contracts involved five conversions of existing service contracts and agreements on geothermal and 17 on hydropower into renewable energy contracts.

New renewable energy projects comprised the remaining 65 contracts that were awarded.

Documents from the DOE showed that the approved projects were expected to generate a total of 4,042 megawatts (MW) of electricity.

The DOE awarded new service contracts for wind power projects to Trans-Asia Renewable Energy Corp., Constellation Energy Corp., Alternergy Philippine Holdings Corp. and DOST-Industrial Technology Development Institute.

Service contracts for geothermal and ocean power projects were awarded to AP Renewables Inc. and Deep Ocean Power Philippines Inc., respectively, while biomass contracts were granted to Lucky PPH International Inc. and Unisan Biogen Corp.

Hydropower contracts were also conferred to Mindanao Energy Systems Inc., First Gen Mindanao Hydro Power Corp., Century Peak Energy Corp., AV Garcia Power Systems Corp., Benguet Electric Cooperative Inc. and PNOC-Renewables Corp.

The DOE also converted existing agreements of Energy Development Corp. (for geothermal resources); and Hedcor Inc., First Gen Bukidnon Power Corp. and Luzon Hydro Corp. (hydropower) into renewable energy contracts.

Meanwhile, conversions from existing geothermal agreements with foreign contractor Chevron Geothermal Philippine Holdings Inc. were also initiated and endorsed to the Office of the President for approval.

Just last month, the DOE awarded seven contracts to six renewable energy project developers, with investments expected to reach close to $1 billion. These projects are expected to generate 379 MW.

As for the biofuels sector, Cavite Biofuels has been granted certificate of registration with notice to proceed for its bioethanol project in Magallanes, Cavite.

Cavite Biofuels? capacity is expected to bring the country?s total annual bioethanol capacity to 73.3 million liters once its ethanol production facility becomes operational.

San Carlos Bioenergy Inc. was the first to be registered under the Renewable Energy law, while Chemrez Technologies Inc., Golden Asian Oil International Inc. and Leyte Agri Corp. were issued full accreditation later.