MGreen energizes solar plant

By Lorenz S. Marasigan – February 19, 2025
from Business Mirror

Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) unit MGen Renewable Energy Inc. (MGreen) has officially energized its 19.8-megawatt alternating currents (MWac) solar power plant in Barangay Pesa, Bongabon, Nueva Ecija.

The solar facility, completed six months ahead of schedule, is the first project under the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Green Energy Auction Program (GEA-2) to come online.

It is expected to supply electricity to at least 20,000 households while helping the Philippines reach its renewable energy (RE) target of 35 percent by 2030 and 50 percent by 2040.

“More than just a solar power plant, MGreen Bongabon Solar is about creating opportunities, reducing our carbon footprint, and setting a new standard for renewable energy initiatives in our country,” MGreen President Dennis B. Jordan said.

The plant is projected to offset at least 19,000 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) annually, which is equivalent to the carbon sequestration of more than 211,000 tree seedlings grown over a decade.

Department of Energy Assistant Secretary Mario Marasigan said the host community “will be getting most of the benefits of this project.”

“We want to make sure that the project you have installed will continue for at least the next 20 years.”

With the energization of the Bongabon Solar facility, MGreen is set to add 85.2 MWac of additional solar capacity in 2025. Among its upcoming projects are the inauguration of a new solar plant in Cordon, Isabela, the expansion of an existing facility in Baras, Rizal, and the first phase of the MTerra Solar project in Nueva Ecija, which is expected to be the world’s largest integrated solar photovoltaic (PV) and battery energy storage system (BESS).

Meralco Power Gen Corp. (MGEN), the parent company of MGreen, aims to develop up to 1,500 MW of attributable RE capacity by 2030. Currently, it has 2,602 MW from both traditional and RE sources.