MGEN Renewable Energy Inc. (MGreen), a unit of Meralco PowerGen Corp. (MGEN), inaugurated its 19.8-megawatt (MWac) solar power plant in Barangay Pesa, Bongabon, Nueva Ecija on Tuesday.
The MGreen-Bongabon Solar is estimated to supply power to at least 20,000 households and establishments.
It is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 19,000 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) per year or equivalent to carbon sequestered of at least 211 tree seedlings grown for 10 years using the greenhouse gas equivalencies calculator.
“More than just a solar power plant, MGreen Bongabon Solar is about creating opportunities, reducing our carbon footprint, and setting a new standard for renewable energy initiatives in our country.” said MGreen president and chief executive Dennis Jordan.
This is the first project in the second Green Energy Auction (GEA-2) program for renewable energy of the Department of Energy (DOE) to be completed ahead of schedule—or at least six months before its original completion.
The new solar facility also supports the DOE’s goal of increasing the renewable energy share in the country’s power mix to 35 percent by 2030 and 50 percent by 2040.
It highlights MGEN’s commitment to accelerating the country’s clean energy transition and expanding its renewable energy portfolio.
MGEN aims to develop up to 1,500 MW of attributable renewable energy capacity by 2030. Its portfolio boasts a combined gross capacity of 2,602 MW from both traditional and renewable energy sources.
MGreen expects to add an additional 85.2 MWac of solar capacity to its growing portfolio in 2025. MGreen has a gross generating capacity of 344.46 MW of pure renewable energy to date.
It looks forward to inaugurating a new solar plant in Cordon, Isabela and the expansion of an existing solar facility in Baras, Rizal—further strengthening its role in powering the country’s clean energy future.
It is also set to complete Phase 1 of the MTerra Solar project in Nueva Ecija by next year which is considered as the world’s largest integrated solar PV and batter energy storage system facility, with a capacity of 3,500 MWp solar energy and a 4,500 MWac BESS.
DOE assistant secretary Mario Marasigan highlighted Bongabon Solar project’s long-term impact on the host community, saying “[the local barangay] will be getting most of the benefits of this project.”
“We want to make sure that the project you have installed will continue for at least the next 20 years,” he said.
Energy Regulatory Commission director Sharon Montañer said the Bongabon Solar project is an example of “how private sector initiatives align with the GEA program providing the much-needed boost of our country’s clean energy capacity.”