The Philippines has inaugurated Phase I of the MTerra Solar project in Gapan City, Nueva Ecija, representing a significant development in the nation’s renewable energy infrastructure. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. led the inauguration ceremony, which took place less than two years after the project’s groundbreaking. The facility represents a major step toward establishing what is expected to become the world’s largest integrated solar and battery energy storage facility once fully constructed.
Phase I of the project has energized 1,373 megawatts of photovoltaic generation capacity alongside 825 megawatts of battery energy storage, providing a total storage capacity of 3.3 gigawatt-hours. Upon completion of all phases, MTerra is projected to reach 3.5 gigawatts of solar generation paired with 4.5 gigawatt-hours of battery storage. Currently, power exports to the Luzon grid are limited to 750 megawatts while transmission upgrades and grid integration work are finalized. Phase I is approximately 91 percent complete and is expected to reach full commercial operation by August 2026, with Phase II construction underway and scheduled for completion in 2027.
The project addresses key energy security challenges for the Philippines, which has historically relied on imported coal, liquefied natural gas, and oil. The combination of solar generation with battery storage allows excess daytime electricity to be stored and dispatched during evening peak demand periods. Once fully operational, the facility is projected to supply electricity to approximately 2.4 million households while preventing an estimated 4.3 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually.
Government officials emphasized the broader strategic importance of the development. The project is expected to generate approximately 23 billion Philippine pesos in economic value over the next decade through tax revenues, employment, and community development programs. The inauguration coincides with broader renewable energy expansion across the Philippines, with the Department of Energy having awarded 605 renewable energy service contracts since 2022 and launching a 10-Year Green Energy Auction Program aimed at deploying 25 gigawatts of additional renewable capacity between 2027 and 2035.