0 Comments
Table of Contents
Yuchengco-led Rizal Green Energy Corp. (RGEC) has energized its 40-megawatt Limbauan Solar Power Plant (LSPP) in San Pablo, Isabela, marking a key addition to the country’s renewable energy capacity as concerns over global fuel supply disruptions persist.
The project, developed through subsidiary BKS Green Energy Corp. (BKSGEC), is RGEC’s latest solar investment and its first renewable energy facility in the Cagayan Valley. The ₱1.8-billion plant has begun exporting electricity to the grid and is expected to generate approximately 59 gigawatt-hours of clean energy annually, which can supply around 33,000 households.
RGEC is a joint venture between PetroGreen Energy Corp. (PGEC), the renewable energy arm of PetroEnergy Resources Corp., and Japan-based Taisei Corp.
Timely Development
PGEC President and CEO Francisco G. Delfin, Jr. emphasized the project’s strategic importance, citing ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East as a reminder of the country’s vulnerability to imported fuel dependence.
“The current Middle East conflict highlights once more the absolute necessity of securing our country’s energy supply and reducing our dependence on imported energy sources,” Delfin said.
He added that the solar plant’s commissioning is “very timely,” particularly as it is among the first utility-scale solar facilities in Isabela province.
The Department of Energy (DOE) has classified the project as an energy project of national significance, reflecting its role in supporting economic growth and strengthening supply resilience.
Grid Integration
The Limbauan facility was developed in two phases. The initial 6-MW component is embedded within the Isabela Electric Cooperative II network, while the larger 34-MW phase connects to the national grid via a 4.73-kilometer transmission line linked to the Tuguegarao-Cabagan corridor.
The second phase was awarded under the government’s Green Energy Auction Program, reinforcing policy support for scaling up renewable capacity.
The plant is equipped with 52,640 solar photovoltaic panels supplied by Trina Solar. At peak construction, the project generated between 500 and 600 jobs, contributing to local employment and skills development in the host community.
Energy Resilience Goals
DOE Renewable Energy Management Bureau Director Marissa P. Cerezo highlighted the broader role of renewable projects in insulating the country from external shocks.
She noted that geopolitical disruptions can drive up fuel prices and destabilize energy markets, making investments in domestic renewable sources increasingly critical.
Cerezo also cited a directive from Energy Secretary Sharon Garin requiring renewable energy projects scheduled for completion this year to be delivered ahead of schedule to sustain economic momentum.
The Isabela solar plant adds to PGEC’s growing portfolio, which includes four utility-scale solar projects across Tarlac, Bohol, and Nueva Ecija. With the Limbauan facility now operational, RGEC continues to expand its footprint as part of a broader push to accelerate the country’s transition toward cleaner and more secure energy sources.
Source:
https://tribune.net.ph/2026/03/18/new-isabela-solar-plant-buffers-power-amid-oil-spike
https://business.inquirer.net/580170/yuchengco-group-switches-on-p1-8-b-isabela-solar-park