Top 10 Remarquable Facts about Bangui Windmills

Bangui Windmills. Photo by Mariarona – Wikimedia Commons

Top 10 Remarquable Facts about Bangui Windmills

Bangui Wind Farm is a wind farm in the Philippines, in Bangui, Ilocos Norte. Over the years, these windmills have developed into a global tourist attraction that, like the famous Don Quixote, has inevitably attracted and anticipated millions of visitors.

The Bangui Wind Farm is located at the northwestern tip of the Philippines’ Luzon Island, in the Province of Ilocos Norte. The windmills form a gracefully shaped arc that reflects the shoreline alongside Bangui Bay and faces the West Philippine Sea.

1. The Bangui Wind Farm project was initiated by a 48 million dollar grant

Bangui Windmills up-close. Located at Ilocos Region in the Philippines. Photo by Sj ang – Wikimedia Commons

Due to Ilocos’ location between the Pacific Ocean and the South China Sea, the province tends to have more wind than most others in the Philippines. This makes for just a great place for one of Southeast Asia’s biggest wind farms.

It was the biggest until the Burgos Wind Farm took the title in the year 2014. The Bangui Wind Farm project was initiated by a 48 million dollar grant from the Danish government in 1998.

2. Denmark delivered all the wind turbine generators for the 20 windmills

Bangui Windmills, Bangui, Ilocos Norte, Philippines. Photo by Urville86 – Wikimedia Commons

Denmark also delivered all the wind turbine generators for the 20 windmills. They were provided by the Danish company Vestas Wind Systems, which powers most of Denmark’s wind farms.

The Bangui Wind Farm as it is today was completed in two phases. While the project was set in motion in 1998; phase II was completed in 2008, and added 5 more wind turbines. This brought the total capacity of the wind farm to about 33 megawatts.

3. Bangui Wind Farm is one of the ‘greener’ areas of the Philippines

Windmills ,Bangui,ilocos norte. Photo by Leoviernes1 – Wikimedia Commons

Being one of the ‘greener’ areas of the Philippines (think clean air); the Bangui Wind Farm provides about 50% of Ilocos Norte’s electricity.

 It’s been estimated that 56,788 tons of CO2 are being reduced by the project yearly. This makes the whole area surrounding the Bangui Wind Farm and Ilocos Norte, one with the lowest carbon emission footprints among the Asian developing countries.

4. The Bangui windmills are not lighted at night

Windmills of Bangui. Photo by Mats Sjödin – Wikimedia Commons

Aside from learning about the specifics and history of the Bangui Windmills; you as a visitor most likely want to go there to take some swell pictures to keep and share.

 Well, as long as you go by daytime (the windmills are not lighted at night), this scenario is more than available for you since all areas are accessible and the site is touristically set up.

You can even ride horses for 100 PHP (1.87 USD) and several souvenir stalls are aligned at the entrance where you can buy some souvenirs like little windmills and whatnot.

5. While at Bangui Windmills you have the opportunity to drink and eat some at its entrance

Bangui Windmills. Photo by Mariarona – Wikimedia Commons

You also have the opportunity to drink and eat some at the entrance of the site; so for your day trip through Ilocos Norte, you can happily spend one or two hours at this particular touristic attraction.

The scenic strip of windmills that’s called the Bangui Wind Farm is a great stop on one of your day trips through Ilocos Norte. If you bring a drone for some even more stunning footage; try to find a place more inlands since the drone will have a hard time finding signals between the ‘large metal objects.

6. The beach near the windmills is fine and clean

Bangui Windmills pic Paolo Dala from Marikina City, Philippines, Philippines- Wikimedia Commons

The beach is fine and clean but doesn’t make for a good place to swim. I hope you’ll make some great photos though and have a great time chilling around at the site.

If you’re traveling by bus you can take the ‘Laoag to Cagayan’ bus route for instance. When you’re approaching Burgos you can look for a specific sign on the left side of the road that will lead to the strip.

 It’s better though to just inform the driver or conductor where you’re going because they will be always very helpful and happy to assist you.

 On top of that, the blades are already visible from the highway so it will not be hard to find the wind farm.

7. The turbines face the sea with the prevailing wind blowing into the property

BANGUI WINDMILLS- BANGUI, ILOCOS NORTE. Photo by Kirkamon – Wikimedia Commons

The turbines face the sea with the prevailing wind blowing into the property. Its position along the coast is ideal, owing to a lack of windbreaks and minimal rugged terrain. The site consists of 20 Vestas Wind Systems which extend 9 kilometers (5.6 mi) across the bay’s shoreline.

8. The Northwind Bangui Bay Project is situated at the northwest tip of the island

Bangui Windmills pic by J. Baniaga – Flickr. Orig. Flickr desc: Taken in Ilocos Norte, the Bangui windfarm is the first of its kind in the Philippines and considered as the biggest in Southeast Asia.
Photo by Jhay Baniaga from Metro Manila, Philippines – Wikimedia Commons

The Philippines’ location next to the Asia-Pacific monsoon belt is perfect for building wind turbines. The Northwind Bangui Bay Project is situated at the northwest tip of the island of Luzon, in the municipality of Bangui, Ilocos Norte, Philippines. 

9. You get to Bangui Windmills by road when you take the Pan-Philippine Highway / AH26

Bangui Windmills. A man made marvel that brought power and sufficient energy to Ilocos. Photo by
Kaven Bajar – Wikimedia Commons

If you’re going to drive from Laoag City, take the Pan-Philippine Highway / AH26. You’ll be able to see Cape Bojeador and Wind Farm Burgos.

After passing the Burgos Wind Farm, turn left for a few meters. Travel straight ahead until you enter Estress Resort, then turn right to arrive at the destination.

10. Bangui Windmill Farm is visited by thousands of tourists

Bangui windmills. These windmills in Bangui generates electricity for Ilocos Norte. Photo by Iandelgado – Wikimedia Commons

Bangui Windmill Farm is visited by thousands of tourists, particularly during the summer season. There are no costs to pay to get a beautiful shot beneath one of the giant windmills.

To get a view of the stunning windmill draw, make sure to visit the windmill farm during the daytime.