The Philippines has inaugurated its 1st agrivoltaic project, combining 197 MW of solar power with 320 MWh of storage
The Batangas facility integrates agriculture under solar panels, maximizing land use and supporting farmers’ incomes, said the country’s President
Citicore says this project is part of its plans to install 5 GW of clean energy in the country by 2030, advancing the Philippines’ renewable energy share target to 50%
The President of the Philippines, Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., has officially inaugurated the country’s maiden agrivoltaic project with 197 MW solar capacity, accompanied by a 320 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS).
Located in the Batangas region and commissioned by Citicore Renewable Energy Corporation (CREC), the Citicore Solar Batangas 1 Power Plant comprises Lumbangan and Luntal Power Projects. Together, these facilities are expected to generate enough clean energy to power around 158,000 households.
“Here in Batangas, we are showing the whole world that solar power is the path to a sustainable and clean way of lighting our homes and industries,” stressed President Marcos.
The solar farm is integrated with agricultural activity to enable crop production beneath the panels. This innovative approach lessens land-use competition between agriculture and energy generation by maximizing land productivity, while boosting income for farmers and enhancing food security, stated the President.
For Citicore, this project is part of its target to achieve 5 GW of clean energy over the next 5 years in the Philippines, which will contribute to the country’s goal of growing the share of renewable energy in the national mix to 50% by 2040.
Last year, in April 2024, CREC raised PHP 9 billion in debt financing from Filipino bank RCBC to support up to 1 GW solar capacity spread across Batangas, Pampanga, and Negros Occidental (see Filipino Renewables Firm Raises PHP 9 Billion Financing).
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