The Philippines Begin Construction of the World’s Largest PV Power Plant with Energy Storage

The President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., officially launched the construction of the Meralco Terra Solar project, set to become the world’s largest solar power plant combining photovoltaic (PV) technology with a battery energy storage system (BESS).

Project Details

The project involves building a power plant with a capacity of 3.5 GWp and an energy storage system with a capacity of 4.5 GWh. These facilities will cover 3,500 hectares in the provinces of Bulacan and Nueva Ecija.

The Philippine government has accelerated the development of this project by issuing a “green lane certificate” through the Board of Investments (BOI) in August. This certificate speeds up the process of obtaining permits and licenses, aligning with the national policy to promote investments in critical projects.

Initially estimated to cost 185 billion PHP (3.14 billion USD), the project’s revised budget now stands at 200 billion PHP.

Climate and Social Impact

President Marcos Jr. emphasized that the Meralco Terra Solar project is a “decisive step in combating global warming and climate change.” The Luzon region, which includes Manila and Gapan, was recently struck twice by Super Typhoon Pepito, the sixth typhoon to hit the country within a month.

Global Competition

The Meralco Terra Solar project will become the largest endeavor of its kind worldwide. China’s Xinjiang Solar, currently the largest photovoltaic plant with 5 GW capacity, lacks an energy storage system. In contrast, the Edwards & Sanborn project in California combines 875 MWdc PV capacity with the world’s largest lithium-ion storage system of 3,287 MWh, operational since early this year.

In Latin America, Chile’s Oasis de Atacama project is under construction, with plans for 2 GW of solar capacity and an energy storage system of up to 11 GWh. The first four phases of this project are expected to be completed by the end of 2026.

Timeline and Contractors

President Marcos Jr. announced that Meralco Terra Solar is scheduled to begin commercial operations by 2027, utilizing an existing 550 kV transmission line for grid connection.

Last week, Terra Solar Philippines awarded the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contract to the Chinese firm China Energy Engineering Group (Energy China).