Meralco Terra Solar Farm
Meralco Terra Solar Farm | |
---|---|
Country | Philippines |
Location | Bulacan and Nueva Ecija |
Coordinates | 15°24′53″N 121°01′25″E / 15.414694°N 121.023561°E |
Status | Underconstruction |
Construction began | 2024 |
Commission date | 2026 (planned) |
Construction cost | ₱200 billion |
Owner | Terra Solar Philippines Inc. |
Solar farm | |
Type | Flat-panel PV |
Site area | 3,500 hectares (8,600 acres) |
Power generation | |
Nameplate capacity | 3,500 MW (planned) |
Storage capacity | 4,500 MWh |
The Meralco Terra (MTerra) Solar Project is a solar thermal power and energy battery storage facility project underconstruction in the Philippines.
History
[edit]Initial plans
[edit]Solar Philippines initially planned to build a 500 MW solar power plant in Peñaranda, Nueva Ecija which was projected to be the largest of its kind in Southeast Asia.[1]
The project for the Nueva Ecija solar farm was first conceptualized in 2016. It would be built in phases with the first phase to produce 225 MW.[2]Construction was planned for late-2021.[3]
Terra Solar, the company was established in 2020 as a joint venture between Prime Infra and Solar Philippines, the parent [4]
Terra Solar project
[edit]In 2022, Solar Philippines announced its expanding its planned Nueva Ecija facility to include land in Bulacan.[5] Clearing of land for the solar facility began by January 2024.[6]
SPNEC's Manuel Pangilinan announced in March 2024 plans to sell 40% of the equity in Terra Solar Philippines Inc. to get more investors to build a P200-billion cache. "The investment [for the project] would be at Terra Solar, which is 100 percent owned by SPNEC. Most likely, foreign investors will come in for an up to 40-percent equity stake at the Terra Solar level," Pangilinan said.[7][8]
The solar power initiative was inaugurated as the Meralco Terra Solar Project on November 21, 2024 in Barangay Callos, Peñaranda,[9]Nueva Ecija in a ceremony led by president Bongbong Marcos.[10][11][12]
The first phase of the project covering 2,500 MW is expected to be complete by 2026.[13] The second phase by 2027.[14] Energy China is the engineering, procurement, and construction contractor for the project.[15]
Facility
[edit]The Meralco Terra Solar facility will span across an area of 3,500 hectares (8,600 acres) across Gapan, General Tinio, Peñaranda, and San Leonardo in Nueva Ecija and San Miguel in Bulacan.[13]
It will have a production capacity of 3,500 MW as well as a 4,500 MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS).[13] It will be connected to the national grid via the 500-kilovolt (kV) Nagsaag–San Jose Transmission Line.[10] Meralco will distribute 850 MW of the power produced to its customers.[16]
References
[edit]- ^ "SPNEC starts construction of 'biggest solar project in Southeast Asia'". GMA News Online. Retrieved December 26, 2021.
- ^ Lagare, Jordeene (June 30, 2021). "PH to build largest solar farm in Nueva Ecija". The Manila Times. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
- ^ Yang, Angelica; Valmonte, Keren Concepcion (November 2, 2021). "Solar Philippines looking to hold IPO to fund 500-MW solar farm". BusinessWorld. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
- ^ "Terra Solar Philippines draws foreign interest in P200-B solar project — SPNEC". BusinessWorld. May 7, 2024. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
- ^ "Solar Philippines to build 4 GW solar farm in Nueva Ecija, Bulacan provinces". PV Magazine. August 18, 2022. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
- ^ "Solar Philippines begins working on 4 GW solar park". PV Magazine. January 2, 2024. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
- ^ Adonis, Meg (March 5, 2024). "SPNEC scrambles to fund world's largest solar farm". Retrieved March 6, 2024.
- ^ Salting, Paolo (March 4, 2024). "SP New Energy in talks with potential investors". Retrieved March 6, 2024.
- ^ "Manny Pangilinan, Lance Gokongwei welcome Marcos to Nueva Ecija solar farm". bilyonaryo.com. November 21, 2024. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
- ^ a b Solano, Joshua (November 21, 2024). "World's largest solar, battery facility inaugurated in Nueva Ecija". SunStar. SunStar Publishing Inc. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
- ^ Bajo, Anna Felicia (November 21, 2024). "Terra solar project to boost power supply in Luzon grid, Marcos says". Retrieved November 21, 2024.
- ^ Mangaluz, Jean (November 21, 2024). "P200-billion MTerra solar farm in Nueva Ecija aims to be world's largest". The Philippine Star. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
- ^ a b c Galang, Gabriel Christel (November 21, 2024). "The size of Pasig City: World's largest solar plant breaks ground in Philippines". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
- ^ "Meralco closes doors to new investors for Terra Solar project". BusinessWorld. September 9, 2024. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
- ^ "SPNEC taps Energy China for Terra Solar construction". BusinessWorld. November 19, 2024. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
- ^ Flores, Alena Mae S. (February 17, 2023). "Terra Solar, Meralco seek ERC approvalon 850-MW renewable energy supply deal". Manila Standard. Retrieved November 21, 2024.