President Benigno Aquino III on Wednesday inaugurated the 63.3-megawatt Calatagan solar farm of Solar Philippines in Batangas province, which became the largest solar facility in Luzon.
The Calatagan solar power plant also became the second largest solar site in the Philippines, next to the 132-megawatt Cadiz solar plant in Negros Occidental.
Solar Philippines, the developer of the Calatagan solar farm, said it would aggressively pursue the development of more solar power projects around the country.
The company said it would soon begin construction of its next projects in Mindanao and Luzon, with a goal to complete 500-MW projects by 2017.
The completion of the Batangas solar project will bring the Philippines one step closer to meeting its commitments under the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and fulfilling the dream of a low-carbon economy, according to Aquino.
“Through projects like these, we are proving to the world that even developing countries such as ours can do their share in combating climate change,” Aquino said.
The Philippines has become the largest solar market in Southeast Asia and one of the largest among emerging markets.
“Solar has just begun to realize its potential. It will soon not only be cleaner, but cheaper and more reliable than coal, and in a matter of years, supply the majority of our country’s energy needs,” Solar Philippines chief executive Leandro Leviste said.
Solar Philippines said the solar farm consisted of over 200,000 panels on a 160-hectare property and could supply enough power for the entire western Batangas.
Solar Philippines said this was the first solar farm developed, financed and constructed entirely by local companies, a testament to the skill and dedication of Filipinos.
Local banks financed the project, including Philippine Business Bank, Banco de Oro Unibank Inc., Chinabank and Bank of Commerce.
The Calatagan solar farm, one of the solar projects completed this year, began operations before the March 15 feed-in-tariff availment deadline set by the Energy Department.
Solar Philippines also installs solar panels on rooftops and supplies electricity to SM and Robinsons malls.
With a team of 200 veterans from the solar, construction, and power industries, it has completed 80 MW of solar rooftop to date, and aims to make the Philippines a global leader in solar power.
