Bangui Windmills of Ilocos Norte

Wazzup Pilipinas!

In this era of heightened environmental consciousness and the global drive to develop and use “green” power, windmills are on top of the pile of choices. They do not cause pollution, require no fuel, do not create greenhouse gases, and produce no waste.


The Bangui Windmills of Bangui, Ilocos Norte is the first “Wind Farm” in the Philippines consists of wind turbines on-shore facing the South China Sea and considered to be the biggest in Southeast. Asia. These gargantuan windmills are spread across a 6.5 km stretch or about 236 meters of the grey sand beach.

Standing 70 meters above ground and arranged in an arc spanning a total of nine kilometers straddling nine barangays, the windmills are difficult to miss, even by those who are several kilometers away.

The windmills, officially referred to as the NorthWind Bangui Bay Project, aren’t there as whimsical adornments to the local landscape, because they actually provide forty percent (40%) of Ilocos Norte's 600,000 population's power requirements making Bangui the capital of green energy in the Philippines.

NorthWind Power Development Corporation, the Manila-based company that runs the farm, reported a P70-million annual savings passed on to consumers in the form of cheaper power rates.

There are actually three wind locations in Ilocos Norte, namely, the 33-MW Bangui Windmills, operated by NorthWind Power Development Corp.; and the wind farms in Burgos (150 MW), owned by the Energy Development Corp. (EDC), and Pagudpud (81 MW), of the North Luzon Renewable Energy Corp. (NLREC).

Renewable energy developments in the country have been a blooming industry that continuously stirs the progress of the rural regions of the nation. These energy developments are symbols of the country’s initiatives in changing the models and paradigms for energy security. We must exert every effort in exploring different potential resources which we can tap for our energy requirements.

"It is truly an awesome sight. It looks like a surreal scene from an extra-terrestrial movie. " - exclaim travelers as there are not too many areas with the same majestic view of machines harnessing the power of the wind.

"They’re tall and white, and silhouetted against the backdrop of blue sea and green mountain, the tri-blade windmills of this remote coastal town up north can be an impressive sight."

This is probably why a lot of people go to Pebble Beach not for swimming but to have a close up view of the Bangui Windmill Farm. This location was included as part of the itinerary for the Miss Global Philippines 2016 photoshoot for the candidates, whether it be official or not, no one should miss out on an opportunity to have their photos taken with the amazing giant windmills as backdrop.

True enough, an Ilocos Tour would not be complete without a visit to Bangui Wind Farm in Bangui, Ilocos Norte. It is one of my most awaited highlight of every Pagudpud adventure.

From sunrise to sunset, the Bangui Wind Farm of Ilocos Norte is an awesome sight to behold. Don't be satisfied seeing these photos. I urge you all to witness it yourself and be proud you are in the Philippines.

Partner Photographer: Collin Sarthou Yap