Philippines Launches World’s Largest Solar-Battery Hybrid Project
The initial phase of a groundbreaking integrated solar and battery project in the Philippines has officially been synchronised and energised, just 15 months after the groundbreaking ceremony, paving the way for it to become the largest of its kind globally.
Meralco PowerGen Corporation (MGEN), via its affiliate Terra Solar Philippines (MTerra Solar), announced over the weekend the successful completion of the first grid synchronisation and energisation for the expansive MTerra Solar project, which will ultimately feature 3.5 gigawatts (GW) of solar energy and 4.5 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of battery energy storage upon its completion.
Location and Project Details
Spanning six municipalities in the provinces of Nueva Ecija and Bulacan, the MTerra Solar Project encompasses an impressive 3,500 hectares and is being developed in two substantial phases.
Phase 1, which is still underway but has now been successfully connected to the national grid, will deliver 2.5 GW of solar capacity alongside 3.3 million watt-hours (MWh) of battery storage. The subsequent phase is forecasted to add roughly 1 GW of solar and 1.2 GWh of battery storage.
A New Record in Renewable Energy
Upon finalisation, the MTerra Solar Project is set to emerge as the largest hybrid solar facility in the world, ranking among the most significant solar farms and battery projects internationally.
Last week, MTerra Solar achieved a critical milestone, successfully energising and connecting the project’s 500 kV substation along the Nagsaag–San Jose 500-kV Line 2, a vital element for integrating the project with the grid.
While only 250 MWac of solar capacity and 112.5 MWh of battery storage is expected to be operational by the end of February, MTerra Solar has reported that as of January’s end, they have installed 1,288 MWdc of solar photovoltaic capacity along with 622 battery energy storage system (BESS) units.
Soon, the project will begin exporting 85 MW of reliable power to the local grid, showcasing its stability ahead of further increases in overall capacity.
Commitment to Renewable Energy
“MTerra Solar demonstrates that the Philippines can construct large-scale projects efficiently,” stated Emmanuel V. Rubio, president and CEO of MGEN. “Today’s energisation signifies not an endpoint, but the commencement of a larger journey that will amplify our capacity, widen our impact, and showcase the Philippines’ ability to lead in renewable energy development on a grand scale.”
MTerra Solar is collaborating closely with the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) to ensure smooth integration with the grid while coordinating efforts to maintain stability as more solar energy sources are added.
