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The first phase of what is billed as the world’s largest integrated solar and battery storage project has begun commercial operations, bringing 600 megawatts (MW) of additional mid-merit capacity to the Luzon grid and marking a major step in the country’s push to expand renewable energy.
Meralco PowerGen Corp. (MGen) said MTerra Solar Phase 1 officially began commercial operations on Aug. 26 after the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) issued the project a Final Certificate of Approval to Connect (FCATC).
The capacity is being delivered under a power supply agreement with Manila Electric Co. (Meralco), MGen said.
The certification confirms that the facility has met the requirements to safely and reliably connect and operate up to 950 MW of solar capacity and an 825-MW battery energy storage system (BESS) within the national grid.
Another 250 MW of capacity is expected to begin commercial operations in the coming months under the same power supply agreement, according to the company.
Strengthening Luzon Supply
The start of commercial operations gives the project a bigger role in supplying electricity to the country’s main grid, where demand continues to rise alongside economic activity and population growth.
Located across Nueva Ecija and Bulacan, MTerra Solar combines large-scale solar generation with battery storage designed to capture electricity produced during the day and release it during periods of higher demand.
The combination is intended to help address one of the main challenges of renewable energy: the intermittent nature of solar generation. By storing power for later use, the battery system can support grid stability and help make renewable energy available when it is most needed.
“This is a significant step toward the future of energy in the Philippines,” MGen chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan said.
“By combining solar power with battery storage at an unprecedented scale, we’re demonstrating how renewable energy can strengthen energy security, support economic growth, and build a more resilient and sustainable power system for our country,” he added.
Dennis B. Jordan, president and chief executive officer of MGen Renewables and MTerra Solar, said the project demonstrates that renewable energy can be developed at an unprecedented scale while meeting the requirements for safe and reliable grid operations.
MGen president and CEO Emmanuel V. Rubio, meanwhile, attributed the milestone to the workforce behind the project and coordination between the public and private sectors.
Unprecedented Scale
MTerra Solar is jointly developed by MGen and global infrastructure investor Actis, whose $600-million equity commitment has been described as the country’s largest greenfield foreign direct investment to date.
At full buildout, the project is expected to deliver 3,500 megawatts-peak (MWp) of solar capacity paired with 4,500 megawatt-hours (MWh) of battery energy storage.
MGen estimates that the completed project could avoid around 4.3 million tons of carbon emissions annually, equivalent to removing more than 3 million gasoline-powered vehicles from the road.
The project is also expected to support the Philippine Energy Plan, which targets a 35-percent share of renewable energy in the country’s power generation mix by 2030 and 50 percent by 2040.
MTerra Solar Phase 1 was inaugurated by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in July, when the facility had already undergone initial energization and connection to the grid.
The government described the project as the world’s largest integrated solar and battery storage facility located on a single site. The second phase is targeted for completion by 2027.
The latest declaration of commercial operations now moves the project beyond its initial energization stage, allowing its first 600 MW of contracted capacity to supply the grid commercially.
With another 250 MW set to follow, MTerra Solar is expected to further expand its contribution to the Luzon power system as the country seeks additional generation capacity and a larger share of cleaner energy sources.
Source:
https://mb.com.ph/2026/09/03/mgen-begins-commercial-operations-of-mterra-solar-phase-1
https://malaya.com.ph/business/corporate/mterra-solar-starts-commercial-operations-for-600-mw