The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has approved the application of Terra Solar Philippines Inc. to develop the P14.247 billion dedicated point-to-point limited transmission facilities to connect the country’s largest integrated solar facility to the Luzon grid.
Terra Solar is developing the 3,500-megawatt (MW) solar project with a 4,500-megawatt-hour battery energy storage system (BESS) located in Nueva Ecija and San Miguel in Bulacan.
The project shall be carried out in two phases. Phase 1 will have an approximate capacity of 2,500 MW plus 3,300 MWh or 825 MW BESS, while Phase 2 has an approximate capacity of 1,000 MWDC and 1,200 MWh or 300 MW BESS.
Based on its application, Terra Solar set the target commercial operation date (COD) for Project Phase 1 on Feb. 26, 2026, and Phase 2 on Feb. 26, 2027. The first phase is now 61 percent complete.
The ERC said a review of the evidence showed that approving TSPI’s application to connect its Terra Solar Project through a bus-in connection to the Nagsaag-Marilao/San Jose 500 San Isidro 500 kV Substation as the final connection scheme “will redound to the benefit of the electricity consumers in terms of continuous, quality, reliable, and efficient power supply as mandated by Section 2 of the EPIRA.”
The ERC directed Terra Solar to pay P106,859,651.48 as a permit fee for the dedicated facility.
Meanwhile, the ERC denied the request of Terra Solar for authority to operate and maintain the facilities.
“NGCP shall operate and maintain the subject dedicated point-to-point limited facilities to ensure and maintain the reliability, adequacy, security, stability, and integrity of the nationwide electrical grid, subject to applicable charges to TSPI discretion,” the ERC said.
It also directed NGCP to expedite the filing and completion of the NGCP San Isidro 500kV Substation and Baras 500kV Substation, as well as the completion of the Navotas-Doña Imelda 230 kV Transmission Line Project, Marilao 500kV Substation, Taguig 500kV Substation and Taguig-Silang 500kV Transmission Line Project.
