Visiting a Wind Farm in Pililia Rizal
Earlier this month, my family and I visited Pililia to see their wind farm. It was a great way to end the week. The weather was perfect, and I hadn't seen wind turbines until that day, so it was an exciting trip.
Before we continue, let us look at the differences between a windmill and a wind turbine quickly:
I thought I had to include the table below to avoid confusion. Many of us commonly interchange these terms, and before writing this post, I referred to the turbines as windmills too.
Windmill | Wind Turbine |
|---|---|
Generates mechanical energy from wind power; | Generates electrical energy (electricity) from wind power using the generator connected to it; |
The mechanical energy produced from windmills are commonly used in pumping water, driving machines, or grinding grains. | Wind turbines are a renewable method of generating a large amount of electrical power without polluting the environment. |
A wind farm is a collection of wind turbines in one location, used collectively to generate electricity.
Location | Where to find the 54-Megawatt Wind Farm in Rizal
You can find this wind farm in Barangay Halayhayin, Pililia Rizal. This project is a joint venture of Vena Energy and Alternergy Philippine Holdings Corporation, which debuted on the Philippine Stock Exchange this year.
Santi’s Farmhouse
If you want better views of the wind turbines, you can park at Santi’s Farmhouse for a fee. They have viewing decks, a walking trail, pay toilets, and a coffee shop. A few seats are also available.
Be sure to bring shades to protect your eyes because it gets hot in the afternoon. I forgot to bring mine and was squinting almost the whole time.
Other Information
27 wind turbines (from Spanish manufacturer Gamesa) sit on the three clusters inside the wind farm;
The turbines are 125 meters tall (equivalent to a 33-story building), as per Alternergy;
While you’re in the area, I suggest getting some fruits from the locals. They’re cheaper and more delicious. We bought a lot of pineapples, and they were all sweet. They sell a lot of jackfruit and sweet potatoes there too.
This wind farm in Rizal is a must-visit for family and friends. The view is worth it.
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