Blueleaf ramps up Laguna floating solar deployment

MANILA, Philippines — Renewable energy firm Blueleaf Energy Philippines is in talks with contractors for the deployment of a P15-billion floating solar project in Laguna province, an official said.

In a chat with reporters late on Tuesday, Pradeep Gopalakrishnan, senior project manager at Blueleaf, said the group was in discussion with Chinese firms Energy China and Xian Electric for potential deals on engineering, procurement, and construction involving its NKS Solar One.

Once inked, Energy China would handle the installation of solar panels, while Xian Electric would focus on the project’s substation, or a facility designed to link lines and cables for transmission and distribution of electricity.

READ: Blueleaf Energy to build $1.5-B floating solar facilities in Laguna

“One is Xian Electric, they have 13 years of presence in the Philippines. The other one is Energy China. They are the ones who did the project in Singapore. Basically, if you have been to Singapore, they have done the same floating solar project on the drinking water reservoir. So we are using the same technology here,” he said.

“We are almost finalizing these two here,” Gopalakrishnan added.

The project is located in Lake Caliraya and Lake Lumot, covering the municipalities of Cavinti, Kalayaan, and Lumban.

According to Rafael Macabiog, head of projects at Blueleaf, the NKS Solar One will have a capacity of 220 megawatt-peak (MWp) — its maximum potential output.

He said the company has been gaining progress in securing necessary permits on land use, as well as a service contract and system impact study.

The project likewise received the Energy Project of National Significance certification, allowing the company to accelerate regulatory approvals.

Macabiog said they were on track to start construction works by early next year, with its completion and commercial operations eyed by the second quarter of 2026.

Blueleaf is also working on a bigger floating solar project on Laguna Lake, dubbed Bluesolar. With a budget of P66 billion, the project is designed to generate up to 1,300 MWp.

The project, a joint venture between Blueleaf and SunAsia, covers five municipalities in Laguna: Cabuyao, Sta. Rosa, Calamba, Bay, and Victoria.

Groundworks are targeted to begin next year. It is expected to be up and running by 2026.