Located in Barangays Lumbangan and Luntal in the municipality of Tuy, Batangas, the PV farm is expected to generate electricity for 158,000 homes, with output projected to offset around 265,000 tonnes of CO₂ per year.
MANILA — A P10-billion solar facility in Batangas equipped with a large-scale battery energy storage system (BESS) has been activated by Citicore Renewable Energy Corp. (CREC), inaugurating the Philippines’ first baseload solar power plant. The Citicore Solar (CS) Batangas 1 park—197-MWp of photovoltaic capacity paired with a 320-MWhBESS—was opened at a ceremony attended by company officials and Department of Energy Secretary Sharon Garin, Citicore said.
RELEVANT SUSTAINABLE GOALS
Located in Barangays Lumbangan and Luntal in the municipality of Tuy, Batangas, the PV farm is expected to generate electricity for 158,000 homes, with output projected to offset around 265,000 tonnes of CO₂ per year. The plant produces power in daylight hours, while the battery stores excess energy and dispatches it at night or during peak demand—allowing the facility to deliver baseload-level supply beyond the usual 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. solar window.
Where the Power Lands—and What It Replaces
Located in Barangays Lumbangan and Luntal in the municipality of Tuy, Batangas, the PV farm is expected to generate electricity for 158,000 homes, with output projected to offset around 265,000 tonnes of CO₂ per year. The plant produces power in daylight hours, while the battery stores excess energy and dispatches it at night or during peak demand—allowing the facility to deliver baseload-level supply beyond the usual 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. solar window.
“Our Citicore Solar Batangas 1 is the first in the Philippines to prove that solar can be true baseload power. This is a huge step forward in the country’s renewable energy transition. With 1.5 GWh of Battery Energy Storage Systems in place, we are prepared to replicate this breakthrough starting in Batangas,” said Oliver Tan, CREC president and CEO.
“This continuous innovation demonstrates not only our expertise in solar but also our commitment to hitting our 1 gigawatt target by Q1 2026. Soon, our country will no longer have to rely on unclean energy and the uncertainties of fuel importation. Instead, we will be powered by homegrown, reliable, and pure renewable energy—bringing us closer to our vision of Powering a First-World Philippines with Pure Renewable Energy,” he added.
1 GW in Sight, 5 GW by 2030
Citicore aims to have 5 GW of installed renewables by 2030. The company said it is on track to have its first 1 GW in operation by the end of this year, coming from 11 solar parks with 760 MWh of batteries.
“Our Projects completing CREC’s 1 GW are 11 facilities in Pangasinan, Pampanga, Batangas, Quezon, and Negros Occidental. Three of the Batangas facilities will also host BESS totaling 760 MWh. The projects are on track for energization by the end of 2025, reducing close to 2.8 billion tons of carbon emissions and powering approximately 800,000 homes yearly once all sites are energized.
Nine of the eleven have secured a 20-year offtake with the Philippine government through the Green Energy Auction Program (GEAP)-2. All 11 are Certified as Energy Projects of National Significance (CEPNS) by the DOE, while 10hold Green Lane Certifications from the Bureau of Investments (BOI).
“We always value our strong partnership with government – a collaboration we’ve consistently demonstrated from Megawide to Citicore. With our experience and expertise in engineering, construction, and innovation, we are poised to complete our projects on time, with quality, and at a lower cost,” said Edgar Saavedra, CREC chairman.
How Baseload Solar Works in Batangas
CS Batangas 1 combines daytime solar generation with night-time and peak-period dispatch from its 320-MWhBESS. By storing and releasing energy, the project smooths output and supports grid reliability—a configuration CREC says it is prepared to replicate starting in Batangas, with 1.5 GWh of battery systems already in place across its portfolio.
With its first gigawatt slated for completion by year-end, CREC targets the start of construction of a second gigawattof renewable energy, including solar, IRES, and onshore wind.
Through the Citicore Foundation, the company says it integrates with host communities from construction to operations. Its AgroSolar Initiative—started in 2021—uses solar land for dual purposes: agricultural crop production and solar generation. Local farmers are employed for their soil expertise, while the company covers planning and expenses for seeds and equipment and secures offtake for the crops. Part of the proceeds goes to farmers to augment income, with the remainder reinvested into seeds and program development.
Other programs include Brigada and Balik Eskwela, Usbong Scholarships, Training 2 Employment, Pailaw Solar Street Lighting, EcoShed solar upcycling, and Communitree tree-planting activities.
CS Batangas 1 marks a first for the Philippines: baseload-capable solar at 197-MWp with a 320-MWh battery, aimed at reliable clean power for 158,000 homes and annual CO₂ reductions of about 265,000 tonnes. With 11 plants in the pipeline, long-term government offtakes, and a community-focused model, Citicore is positioning storage-backed solar as a scalable template for the country’s renewable energy transition.
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