LOPEZ-led power producer First Gen Corp. has started construction of a 54-megawatt (MW) solar farm in Batangas, marking the company's entry into utility-scale solar projects.
In a statement on Wednesday, the company said it has launched the Inara Solar Power Plant Project in Tanauan, the project cost of which is estimated at P2.1 billion.
Batangas Governor Vilma Santos-Recto and other local government officials at the project's groundbreaking ceremony along with First General President and Chief Operating Officer Francis Giles B. Puno and other company officials.
First Gen's first utility-scale solar power project will cover a 36-hectare property, with room for potential expansion up to 100 MW and the potential integration of a battery energy storage system to support operational flexibility and grid stability.
“Solar brings accessibility, scalability and abundance – allowing clean energy to be deployed more quickly and in many locations. Through this project, we aim to expand renewable energy in a way that continues to create opportunities for both communities and industries,” Mr Puno said.
In addition to supplying power to the grid, the company plans to include the provision of agri-photovoltaics (agri-PV) in the design of the facility, combining agriculture and solar power generation within the same field.
“it [agri-PV approach] This means farmers can continue cultivating crops even if the solar panels generate more electricity,'' Mr Puno said. “Energy production does not mean displacing agriculture; The two can work together, allowing the same land to support both food production and clean energy.
Once completed, the solar farm will supply power to the First Philippine Industrial Park, a 520-hectare economic zone that hosts more than 150 locators.
The facility is also expected to help improve the quality and reliability of services provided by Batangas Electric Cooperative (Batelake) II by incorporating the project within its distribution system.
The Inara project is due to be completed by summer next year and is part of First Gen Group's plan to expand its capacity to 13,000 MW by 2030.
First Gen currently has approximately 1,700 MW of generation capacity from 30 hydroelectric, geothermal, solar and wind facilities across the country. — Sheldin Joy Talavera