Nueva ecija: Meralco PowerGen Corp. (MGEN) has successfully installed 778 megawatts (MW) of photovoltaic (PV) panels at its Nueva Ecija project, surpassing its initial target of 750 MW just eight months after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. officiated its groundbreaking in November 2024.

According to Philippines News Agency, MGEN announced in a press release on Tuesday that its affiliate, Terra Solar Philippines Inc., now boasts the largest PV installation in the country. Dennis Jordan, president and CEO of MTerra Solar and MGEN Renewable Energy, emphasized the significance of this accomplishment, stating that with the 778 MW solar PV capacity now installed, the project is making significant strides toward providing cleaner and more sustainable power to Filipinos.

The project is anticipated to deliver 3,500 MW peak (MWp) of solar PV capacity, benefiting approximately 2.4 million households. This aligns with the government's objective to increase the share of renewable energy in the national energy mix to about 30 percent by 2030 and 50 percent by 2040. By the end of June, the project's Phase 1 was reported to be about 54 percent complete, following the construction and development of the integrated PV and battery energy storage system (BESS) plant. Additionally, a 500-kiloVolt (kV) transmission line has been established to connect the project to the Nagsaag-San Jose Transmission Line.

The solar project is not only a source of renewable energy but also a contributor to local employment, with an estimated 9,500 workers anticipated to be employed during its peak construction phase. Situated on a 3,500-hectare area, the project spans the municipalities of Gapan, Pe±aranda, General Tinio, and San Leonardo in Nueva Ecija, as well as San Miguel in Bulacan.