Philippines energises 74.5MWp Tantangan solar project

Facility can supply electricity to about 68,000 households once fully operational.

The Tantangan Solar Power Project in Sultan Kudarat, Philippines, has energised Phase 1, with 74.5 megawatt-peak (MWp) of solar capacity, according to the Department of Energy (DOE).

The facility is expected to supply clean electricity to about 68,000 households, whilst supporting jobs and economic activity in Sultan Kudarat, Mindanao.

Developed in two phases, the ground-mounted facility is 97.3% complete and is expected to be fully operational by October 2026.

The project will have a total installed capacity of 99MWp, complemented by a battery energy storage system capable of delivering four megawatts of power and storing 16 megawatt-hours of energy.

The storage system is expected to enhance the solar plant's performance and allow excess energy to be delivered during peak hours.

Once fully operational, the project is expected to generate 163 gigawatt-hours of clean electricity annually and avoid around 113,950 metric tons of carbon emissions each year, DOE said.

The project is a collaboration between the DOE, Apolaki Seven Inc., IbVogt, and national and local government partners. It was awarded a Solar Energy Operating Contract under the government's Green Energy Auction in September 2023.

The project comes as the Philippines seeks to strengthen energy security and reduce its dependence on imported energy sources.

Renewables accounted for more than 25% of the country's power generation mix, whilst the government targets a 35% renewable energy share by 2030 and 50% by 2040, the DOE said.