The Department of Energy (DOE) on Wednesday said a 3-megawatt-peak (MWp) solar power project supplying the Camarines Sur IV Electric Cooperative (CASURECO IV) has been energized, expanding renewable energy capacity and improving power reliability in Camarines Sur.
The ground-mounted solar facility, developed by Trademaster Renewable One Inc. under a Solar Energy Operating Contract awarded in July 2023, is connected directly to CASURECO IV’s distribution network in Tigaon, allowing electricity generated by the plant to be supplied to consumers within the cooperative’s franchise area.
Situated on a 2.42-hectare site, the project is expected to generate enough electricity to power around 1,900 households annually while reducing dependence on conventional generation and exposure to volatile imported fuel prices, according to the DOE.
Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said the project demonstrates how renewable energy investments can improve local electricity systems while delivering direct benefits to host communities.
“The CASURECO IV Solar Power Project demonstrates how renewable energy investments can strengthen local power reliability while ensuring that host communities directly benefit from the responsible development of their own resources,” Garin said in a statement.
Under the Energy Regulation Program No. 1-94, host communities will receive ₱0.03 for every kilowatt-hour of electricity generated and sold. Of the amount, ₱0.025 per kWh will support livelihood, social development and environmental programs, while ₱0.005 per kWh will be allocated for rural electrification.
Local governments may also use part of the funds to help reduce electricity rates for consumers.
The project is also expected to create employment opportunities through the hiring of local workers and the procurement of goods and services from businesses in host communities.
The energization comes as the government accelerates renewable energy deployment to reduce the country’s reliance on imported fossil fuels and strengthen energy security.
Earlier this month, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. inaugurated the first phase of the MTerra Solar Project in Nueva Ecija, billed as the world’s largest operational integrated solar-and-battery facility on a single site, saying it would help shield the Philippines from global energy price shocks.
The DOE has also been advancing renewable energy in off-grid areas.
Last week, the Energy Regulatory Commission said it was drafting rules that would prioritize renewable energy-powered distributed energy resources over diesel generation in missionary areas, a move aimed at lowering electricity costs and reducing dependence on imported diesel.
The government aims to increase the share of renewable energy in the country’s power generation mix to 35% by 2030 and 50% by 2040 through the continued rollout of solar, wind, hydro and other clean energy projects.
