Meralco PowerGen Corp (MGEN) said Mterra Solar, the world's largest battery-integrated solar power project, has started exporting an initial 250 megawatts (MW) to the grid.
MGEN said in a statement on Monday that MTERRA Solar has also activated its fiThe first tranche of its battery energy storage system, allowing the plant to deliver up to 450 megawatt-hours (MWh) of energy to the grid at night.
“The phased energization of the project enables prompt delivery of capacity to the grid, helping to minimize supply disruptions and supporting emarginal forcestrives to maintain stable electricity prices amid evolving global conditions,” said MGEN Chairman and Chief Executive OfficerfiCER Emmanuel V. Rubio said.
Mterra Solar was initially authorized to export up to 85 MW fiProviding power to the grid as part of testing and commissioning activities.
Located in Bulacan and Nueva Ecija, the P200-billion Mterra solar project is expected to generate 3,500 megawatt-peak (MWp) of solar energy supported by a 4,500-MWh battery energy storage system.
The project is being developed in phases, with full commercial operation targeted by 2027.
Once completed, the project is expected to generate enough clean energy to supply approximately 2.4 million homes.
In a separate statement, the Energy Department Said project supports emarginal forceAn effort to strengthen the country's energy security amid continued volatility in global oil markets due to developments in the Middle East.
Energy Secretary Sharon S. “Each megawatt of domestic capacity we bring to the grid strengthens our ability to absorb external shocks, protect consumers, and maintain system reliability,” Garin said.
“Amid the Middle East conflict, accelerating the development of renewable energy and storage is both a strategic need and a national imperative,” he said.
MGEN is the power generation arm of Manila Electric Company (Meralco), the country's largest private electric distribution utility, serving more than 8.2 million customers in Metro Manila and surrounding provinces.
Meralco's controlling stakeholder, Beacon Electric Asset Holdings, Inc. Partly owned by PLDT Inc. Hastings Holdings, Inc. Ltd., which is a unit of PLDT Bene.fiMediaQuest Holdings, Inc., a subsidiary of Social Trust Fund. that is interested in businessworld Through the Philippine Star Group, which he controls. — Sheldin Joy Talavera