President Marcos Witnesses Groundbreaking For World's Largest Solar, Battery Facility

Terra Solar Philippines, Inc. (TSPI), together with Meralco PowerGen Corporation (MGEN) and SP New Energy Corporation (SPNEC), officially broke ground for the MTerra Solar Project—the world's largest integrated solar and battery storage facility.

The MTerra Solar Project will involve a 3,500-megawatt peak (MWp) photovoltaic (PV) capacity, complemented by a 4,500-megawatt-hour (MWhr) Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) capacity. I Photo: Presidential Communications Office Facebook

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Meralco Chairman and CEO Manny V. Pangilinan (MVP) co-led the groundbreaking ceremony, alongside leaders from Meralco, MGEN, SPNEC, and Actis.

“Today, we take a leap towards the future, driven by innovation and sustained by our collective hope for a cleaner and greener Philippines. We stand together at the site of what will become the largest integrated solar and battery storage facility in the world—the Terra Solar Project. This landmark project will put our country on the map as a leader in renewable energy,” President Marcos Jr. said during the ceremony.

“The Terra Solar power project is designed to address two critical challenges of our time: the surging demand for electricity and the pressing need to shift to renewable and sustainable sources of energy,” he added.

Spanning an impressive 3,500 hectares—almost the same size as Pasig City—across Nueva Ecija and Bulacan, the US$4 billion (over Php 200 billion) MTerra Solar Project will involve a 3,500-megawatt peak (MWp) photovoltaic (PV) capacity, complemented by a 4,500-megawatt-hour (MWhr) Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) capacity.

The project will be located in five towns: Gapan, General Tinio, Peñaranda, and San Leonardo in Nueva Ecija, and San Miguel in Bulacan.

Upon completion, MTerra Solar is expected to supply clean energy to approximately 2.4 million households and reduce carbon emissions by an estimated 4.3 million tons annually—the equivalent of removing over 3 million gasoline-powered vehicles from the roads every year.

This milestone project aligns seamlessly with the government’s goal of achieving a 35% renewable energy mix by 2030 and 50% by 2040.

As of late 2023, the country’s installed renewable energy capacity stands at almost 30% of the total energy mix, underscoring the urgency for stakeholders to accelerate efforts toward a greener energy future.

“Numbers alone fail to articulate the full significance of this project. Today, we are making a statement that the Philippines is not only keeping pace with the global energy transition but also expressing our intention to lead the migration from thermal to renewables,” said Mr. Pangilinan.

The MTerra Solar Project exemplifies Meralco's commitment to renewable energy innovation and is set to deliver clean solar energy under a 20-year, 850 MW mid-merit power supply agreement to Meralco.