Solar Philippines completes Calatagan solar farm

By Danessa Rivera and Iris Gonzales (The Philippine Star) | Updated February 29, 2016 - 12:00am

http://www.philstar.com/business/2016/02/29/1557736/solar-philippines-completes-calatagan-solar-farm

MANILA, Philippines – Solar Philippines, one of the largest developers of rooftop solar power plants in Southeast Asia, has completed its 63.3-megawatt (MW) solar farm in Batangas, providing additional power supply in the western part of the province.

In a statement, the firm said its solar project in Calatagan has started generating power weeks before the Department of Energy (DOE)’s deadline of March 15, 2016.

Solar Philippines, led by 22-year-old entrepreneur Leandro Leviste, also said the solar farm was developed, financed and completed exclusively by a Philippine company.

The project was made possible through the support of local banks, namely Philippine Business Bank (PBB), BDO Unibank Inc., China Banking Corp., and Bank of Commerce.

“Our banking partners have given unprecedented support, and we look forward to extend these partnerships into future projects,” Leviste said. 

It also claimed it is the largest solar project completed in the Philippines to-date.

The solar plant, which comprises over 200,000 panels on a 160-hectare property, is now supplying enough power for the entire Western Batangas.

The Calatagan solar project is expected to offset over 1 million tons of carbon dioxide, equivalent to planting over five million trees in the next three decades of its operation.

During construction, the project employed 2,500 people and is expected to continue to employ at least 100 people, boosting the local economy of Batangas.

Solar Philippines will soon begin construction of its next projects in Mindanao and Luzon that would generate a total of 500 MW by 2017.

“Whereas others see solar as just a part of their portfolio, we believe that it will one day supply the largest share of the energy mix,” Leviste said. 

“Costs continue to improve, and solar will soon become cheaper than coal. As the only local company organized to develop and build solar farms from end-to-end, we are in a unique position to realize that potential,” he added.