The Bangui Windmills
Why are there Bangui Windmills? Because Ilocos Norte Province tends to have more wind than many other provinces due to its location between the South China Sea and the Pacific Ocean so is perfect for making electricity from the wind.
They get regular and fresh North Westerly winds that make it a great location for wind energy generation. That is why Bangui is the ideal wind generator location.
The location of the Bangui windmills in the Philippines near the Asia-Pacific monsoon belt makes it an ideal and economically viable place for wind turbines installation.
For travelers, the Bangui Windmills offer a unique blend of natural beauty and technological wonder. Whether you’re capturing the perfect photo, enjoying a horseback ride along the beach, or sipping coffee at the Kang Kang Café, the experience is both relaxing and enlightening.
The windmills are easily accessible from nearby towns like Pagudpud and Laoag, making them a convenient stop on any Ilocos Norte itinerary. Their hypnotic rotation and rhythmic hum serve as a gentle reminder of the power of nature—and humanity’s ability to harness it responsibly.
The Bangui Windmills
The Bangui Windmills
The Bangui Windmills are more than just infrastructure; they’re a testament to what can be achieved when vision, engineering, and environmental consciousness converge. As the Philippines continues to explore renewable energy, Bangui stands tall—literally and figuratively—as a beacon of hope and progress.
The Bangui Windmills have become more than just energy generators—they’re cultural landmarks and economic catalysts. Their presence has transformed Bangui into a major tourist destination, drawing thousands of visitors each year who marvel at the turbines’ scale and symmetry against the backdrop of the West Philippine Sea.
Local communities have embraced the windmills, integrating them into their livelihoods. Entrepreneurs sell miniature replicas, seashell crafts, and local produce like garlic and onions to tourists. Cafés and souvenir stalls dot the area, offering refreshments and keepsakes to visitors soaking in the coastal views.
Moreover, the project has created jobs in construction, maintenance, and tourism, boosting the local economy and raising living standards. It has also inspired a shift in mindset—encouraging residents to value sustainability and innovation
About the Bangui Windmills
The Bangui Wind Farm was born out of a bold vision to harness the region’s abundant wind resources for clean energy. Initiated in 1998 through a $48 million grant from the Danish government, the project was developed by NorthWind Power Development Corporation in partnership with the Philippine government. The location was strategically chosen due to Ilocos Norte’s unique geography—situated between the South China Sea and the Pacific Ocean, it receives consistent northwesterly winds, making it ideal for wind energy generation.
Construction began in phases, with the first 15 turbines completed in 2005 and additional units added by 2008. Today, the wind farm boasts 20 turbines stretching across a 9-kilometer arc along the shoreline, each spaced 326 meters apart for optimal performance.
All About the Bangui Windmills
The Bangui Windmills wind farm is recognized as the largest in Southeast Asia and sells power Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative (INEC). The expected life span of the wind generation equipment is 21 years.
The Northwind Bangui Bay Project estimates that 56,788 tons of CO2 (tons of carbon dioxide equivalent) of greenhouse gases will be reduced per year for the duration of the project activity. That’s 1.2 million tons of CO2!
This gives Ilocos Norte when combined with hydro-electric power generation, one of the lowest carbon emission footprints in Asia and certainly within developed or developing countries.
The Bangui windmills towers are an impressive 60 meters high and are located just 10 meters from the sea edge. Each wind turbine is capable of producing electricity up to a maximum capacity of 1.65MW. Believe it or not the latest generation turbines can produce up to 14 MW.
Each turbine at Bangui stands approximately 70 meters tall—roughly the height of a 23-story building—with rotor blades spanning 41 meters. These Vestas V82 wind turbines are mounted on 50-meter tubular towers and anchored by 6-meter diameter bases. The nacelle, housing the generator and gearbox, rotates to face the wind, maximizing energy capture.
Collectively, the wind farm generates around 33 megawatts of electricity, supplying nearly 40% of Ilocos Norte’s power needs. This contribution significantly reduces the region’s reliance on fossil fuels and positions Ilocos Norte as one of the lowest carbon-emitting provinces in Asia.
All About the Bangui Windmills
The Bangui windmills turbines have three vertically oriented rotor blades on top of a 50 metre high tubular tower. The nacelle (or casing), which encloses the generator, the gear box and the yaw mechanism (which turns the blades into the wind), is at the rear of the rotor blades. Each wind turbine has a 6-meter diameter base.
You can also visit and look at the Bangui windmills and have a cold drink or hot coffee at the Kang Kang café there and be hypnotized as the graceful blades slowly rotate. Come see why Bangui is one of the Philippines leading centers for sustainable energy. They are connected to the Luzon grid and supply an estimated 40% of the electricity in Ilocos Norte. One more sight to see around Pagudpud and the Bangui Windmills.
