Several power supply projects are eyeing to be operational within the year.
Aboitiz Power Corp. expects to complete its P4.5-billion 94 megawatts (MW) solar farm in Pangasinan by the fourth quarter of the year.
The project, being developed through Aboitiz Power subsidiary Aboitiz Renewables Inc.’s (ARI) special-purpose vehicle, employed JGC Philippines Inc. last December for the engineering, procurement and construction contract of the facility.
JGC has completed the site investigation works with results currently being used for the ongoing detailed engineering and design of the facilities.
Once completed, the power plant is expected to produce about 147 million kilowatt hours of clean energy annually or equivalent to the yearly power consumption of 60,000 average Filipino homes.
Likewise, majority of the facility’s capacity is intended to be contracted for retail electricity supply.
David Smith, ARI executive director, said the project will be the company’s second solar facility after the 59 MW solar plant in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental.
Aboitiz Power is also looking to develop other renewable energy (RE) projects in the region, particularly wind and solar, with tendering on the 167 MW Laoag solar project in Aguilar, Pangasinan ongoing and having erected two met masts to gather wind data in the municipality last February 2021 as well as two more in Bugallon in September 2021.
Another RE developer, Raslag Corp., is set to complete its third solar power plant in May with the 18 MW facility in Mabalacat and Magalang, Pampanga.
Raslag has started the development of its fourth solar plant covering 35.2 MW and has acquired the site for the 60 MW planned fifth solar facility that are likewise located in Pampanga.
Raslag added the projects are among the facilities it is building to expand its portfolio by sixfold within five years and more than 10 times within 10 years.
“These solar power plants are strategically located to harness the potential of Central Luzon for large, utility-scale solar projects. The region is an ideal site for solar energy development considering its vast and flat terrains, stable transmission backbone, economic growth, and high demand for energy,” the company said in a statement.
Raslag’s first two projects are also in Pampanga with capacities of 10.046 MW and 13.141 MW. Jed Macapagal
