Aboitiz unit plans to build solar farm in Negros Occidental
By Lenie Lectura – February 17, 2025
from Business Mirror
Aboitiz Renewables’ MakBan geothermal plant in Batangas.
South Cleanergy Inc., a subsidiary of Aboitiz Renewables Inc. (ARI), is proposing to build a solar farm with battery energy storage system (BESS) in Negros Occidental which will supply power to the Visayas grid.
The 239.56 megawatt (MW) Luna solar power and 65MW BESS project is estimated at P13.846 billion. It is expected to start construction in the first quarter of 2026 while the target commercial operation is in the fourth quarter of 2027.
The project cost will finance a detailed engineering studies and designs, including the feasibility study, and acquisition of permits and licenses; construction, and other environmental requirements.
In a filing, the company said the solar power plant and BESS will help augment the demand for reliable and affordable power supply.
“The proposed power plant will not only supply enough electricity to Filipino households and businesses but will also contribute to national development.”
By 2040, the Department of Energy (DOE) envisions that about 15 percent of the total power requirement shall be supplied by solar power.
“The proposed project will also support DOE’s advocacy to shift to cleaner source of energy to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions from the energy sector.”
The project, it added, also supports the Renewable Energy (RE) Act of 2008 which aims to accelerate the exploration and development of RE sources.
This project, said South Cleanergy is part of its 10-year energy transition strategy which intends to increase the RE sources to bring the portfolio mix to almost 50:50 clean energy and thermal capacities by 2030.
Last month, the company announced that it acquired the shares of Mainstream Renewable Power Philippines Holdings B.V. (MRP) in Cornerstone Energy Development Inc. (CEDI).
In a disclosure, the Aboitiz unit said it reached an agreement with MRP last January 10 for the transfer of the latter’s shares in CEDI via a share purchase agreement, in favor of ARI. CEDI was the local partner of MRP in the wind farm project.
Image credits: www.aboitizpower.com
