A power consortium has started building 24 microgrid projects worth about P2.1 billion to bring electricity to remote communities in Palawan, Cebu, and Quezon Province.
The Maharlika Consortium, through its firms Archipelago Renewables Corp. and ARC II, is working with developers WEnergy Global and CleanGrid Partners on the project. It aims to supply power to around 11,560 households, benefiting more than 50,000 people and local businesses.
Microgrids are small, local power systems that can operate independently from the main electricity grid. The projects will use solar energy, battery storage, smart meters, and distribution lines to provide round-the-clock electricity.
The consortium won the project through a government selection process under the Qualified Third Party Program and the Microgrid Service Provider Act.
Initial plans include installing 7 megawatts of solar capacity with battery storage, supported by 3.5 megawatts of diesel power, across a 225-kilometer network.
Construction is expected to create about 300 jobs over 10 to 12 months, with around 30 permanent roles once operations begin. The target is to have the systems running by December this year.
The project is part of a 2024 agreement with the National Power Corp., which will oversee electricity rates through the Energy Regulatory Commission. Funding support will come from the Universal Charge for Missionary Electrification, a fee collected from grid-connected consumers to help subsidize power in remote areas.
The consortium is also seeking additional investors to support future microgrid developments.
