GAPAN, Nueva Ecija — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday inaugurated the first phase of the MTerra Solar Project, touted as the world’s largest integrated solar and battery storage facility.
MTerra, which spans 3,500 hectares and will be located in five towns — Gapan, General Tinio, Peñaranda and San Leonardo in Nueva Ecija and San Miguel in Bulacan, will have a total 3,500 megawatt peak (MWp) capacity and a 4,500 megawatt-hour (MWHr) battery energy storage system (BESS).
Phase 1, based on data from developer Terra Solar Philippines Inc.’s website, involves 2,500 MWp of capacity and 3,300 MWHr of battery energy storage over approximately 2,500 hectares that will be completed this year. Phase 2 — 1,000 MWp plus 1,200 MWhr BESS over some 1,000 hectares, is targeted for completion next year.
Phase 1 has reached around 91 percent completion and is expected to become fully commercially operational later this year. A total of 1,373 MWp has been energized along with 825 MWHr of battery energy storage.
Upon completion, MTerra Solar is expected to supply clean energy to approximately 2.4 million households and avoid carbon emissions by an estimated 4.3 million tons annually.
“This achievement comes at a time when the need to boost our energy sector has never been more apparent,” Marcos said during the inauguration, which came less than two years after he led groundbreaking for the project.
“Upon completion of both phases, this facility will be capable of delivering up to 3,500 megawatts peak of solar power to the grid. It is supported by 4,500 megawatt-hour of battery storage capacity,” he also said.
“These capabilities will help strengthen the stability of our power system while expanding the role of clean energy in our power generation mix. Equally, importantly, its impact will be felt in the daily lives of our people.”
Terra Solar is a joint venture controlled by MGEN Renewable Energy Inc., a unit of Meralco PowerGen Corp. (MGEN).
Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) Chairman and CEO Manual Pangilan told reporters that “with our current progress, I think we expect to complete Phase 2, and in turn the whole project, by around the first quarter of 2027.”
MGEN President and CEO Emmanuel Rubio said that he expected the project to be delivering power to the grid by September.
“The grid testing of MTerra Solar Phase 1 will be done I think in the first week of August... afterwards, we will wait for the results which will last around 24 to 30 days, so I think September is when we will start commercial operations,” he said.
Pangilinan, who turned 80 on Tuesday, was greeted by Marcos.
“You have officially made it into the Expanded Centenarians Act, which now I am happy to announce you will receive P10,000 from the government,” the president said.
“It is a simple, but I hope meaningful, token of appreciation for the invaluable contributions to our nation that you have made throughout the years,” he added.
