A 25-megawatt solar power plant in Bugallon, Pangasinan has started its testing and commissioning phase, according to Yuchengco-led power company Petro Green Energy Corp. (PGEC).
PGEC said the solar facility, which was completed late last year, can generate about 41,000 megawatt-hours of electricity each year and help cut carbon emissions by around 29,056 metric tons.
Once testing is completed and approved by the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), the plant is expected to begin commercial operations under a 20-year fixed tariff as part of the government’s Green Energy Auction Program II (GEA-2).
Under this program, renewable energy developers compete by offering lower electricity prices, and selected projects are given fixed rates and completion targets to secure incentives regulated by the Energy Regulatory Commission (Philippines).
PGEC said it worked with the Department of Energy (Philippines), the wholesale market operator, and NGCP to secure key approvals, including registration with the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market and grid connection clearance.
The Pangasinan solar project is part of a larger 111.6-MW solar portfolio under Rizal Green Energy Corp., a joint venture between PGEC and Japan’s Taisei Corporation.
PGEC also reported progress on another project: its 13.2-MW Nabas-2 wind farm in Aklan, operated through PetroWind Energy Inc.. The facility recently received NGCP approval to connect to the grid, moving it closer to commercial operation.
Once fully operational, the Nabas-2 wind project is expected to supply clean energy to areas including Boracay and Aklan, helping support growing electricity demand in tourism and business zones connected through the Caticlan–Nabas transmission line.
