AboitizPower Corp.‘s renewable energy unit inaugurated its 92-megawatt-peak (MWp) San Manuel Solar Power Plant in Pangasinan, expanding its solar portfolio as the Philippines steps up efforts to increase the share of renewable energy in its electricity mix.
Located in Barangay San Roque, San Manuel, the facility is the third solar power plant operated by Aboitiz Renewables Inc. in Pangasinan, following its existing projects in Bugallon and Aguilar. The company said the province’s strong solar resources and available grid infrastructure made it an ideal location for further investment.
“Pangasinan’s strong solar potential and available grid connections have made it an ideal location for this project, and we are proud to expand our presence in a province that continues to play an important role in the country’s renewable energy future,” AboitizPower President and Chief Executive Officer Daniel Aboitiz said during the inauguration.
The 102-hectare solar farm is designed to generate around 146 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of electricity annually, enough to supply approximately 75,000 households with clean energy, according to Aboitiz Renewables Chief Development and Execution Officer Sean Chen.
The facility is equipped with more than 150,000 solar panels and is connected to the national grid through a 69-kilovolt substation and a 7.4-kilometer double-circuit transmission line linked directly to the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines’ San Manuel substation.
Chen said the project site was carefully selected to utilize land with limited agricultural use, allowing the company to pursue renewable energy development while minimizing the impact on local farming communities.
Construction of the solar project began in September 2024 and generated employment for about 1,190 workers, many of them from nearby communities.
Daniel Aboitiz said investments in renewable energy projects such as the San Manuel solar plant are essential to strengthening the country’s long-term energy security.
“Power generation investments like the San Manuel Solar Power Plant diversify our energy mix and support the Philippines’ long-term goals of energy security and energy autonomy,” he said.
Department of Energy Secretary Sharon Garin, who attended the inauguration, said Pangasinan has emerged as one of the country’s leading hubs for solar energy development.
She said renewable energy currently accounts for about 25% of the Philippines’ power generation mix as the government works toward increasing the share to 30% by 2030.
“Pangasinan has been very supportive of the energy transition as mandated by the President. A lot of people will be helped by your province, especially in energy,” Garin said.
The San Manuel project forms part of AboitizPower’s broader push to expand its renewable energy portfolio as demand for cleaner electricity continues to grow. The company has been increasing investments in solar, hydro, geothermal and other renewable technologies to support the country’s energy transition and improve long-term energy security.
The inauguration also reinforces Pangasinan’s position as one of the Philippines’ key locations for utility-scale solar development, with several large-scale projects already operating or under development in the province.
