Manila: The government's renewable energy (RE) bid got a boost from the inauguration of the first phase of the 3,500-megawatt peak (MWp) Terra Solar project here Tuesday. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) Chair and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Manuel V. Pangilinan led the ceremony for Phase 1 of the MTerra Solar project of what is eyed to be the world's largest solar photovoltaic (PV) and battery energy storage system (BESS) in a single site.
According to Philippines News Agency, Phase 1 energized about 1,373 MW of solar PV capacity and 825 MW of battery energy storage, equivalent to 3,300 MWh. Once fully operational, the BESS is targeted to have a maximum capacity of 2,500 MW, a best so far for Terra Solar Philippines, Inc., a subsidiary of Meralco PowerGen Corp (MGen). Marcos highlighted the project's contribution to the government's goal to reduce reliance on fuel products to ensure the country's energy security. "It underscores the importance of diversifying our energy sources and how we must be committed to moving that mix in the direction to favor renewables," he said.
Pangilinan stated that domestic power sector players have the capacity to exceed what others in the world can do through strengthened private and public sector collaboration. "The sunlight across our archipelago has kept our harvest bountiful, and our mornings filled with yearning and hope. Now, our people are able to take greater ownership and use of this sunlight. It will light homes, strengthen local economies, and grant our children an enormous start to a sustainable future," he said. "And this is only the beginning. Meralco will keep building more renewables, more batteries, more jobs - until reliable, clean energy ceases being a privilege, and becomes a birthright for all Filipinos."
When asked if the project will bring down Meralco power rates, Pangilinan told journalists that the movement of prices "is a curve." "It goes up during the night. So, this is mid-merit. We could sell at a time to bring down the price, but this is not flat rate throughout the day," he said. On the completion of the solar project's Phase 2, Pangilinan said it is expected to be finished by March 2027.
MGen President and CEO Emmanuel Rubio, during the same event, mentioned that about 750 MW is being supplied by the solar project to the power grid, but it can reach 950 MWp upon the completion of the system integrity protection scheme by around the third week of this month. "So, that means we can already deliver the 850 MW as long as we have the panels and the batteries to supply the plant," he said.
