PetroGreen Energy secures ECC for 98-MW solar park

MANILA, Philippines – Yuchengco-led PetroGreen Energy Corp. (PGEC) has secured the environmental clearance for its largest 98.20-megawatt (MW) solar facility in Capiz province.

In a statement, the company said its unit EcoSolar Energy Corp. (ESEC) had secured an environmental compliance certificate from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Environmental Management Bureau for the Panitan solar power project.

READ: PetroGreen powers on Pangasinan solar park

ESEC is a joint venture between PGEC and Japan’s Kyuden International Corp.

The group said the ground-mounted solar farm had emerged as one of the winning bidders in the green energy auction round 4 of the Department of Energy.

The project is targeted to start deliver power into the national grid by the end of 2028.

“Capiz government leaders, Panitan municipal officials and local stakeholders endorsed the project, citing its significance and potential impacts as the province’s first utility-scale solar power facility,” said PGEC assistant vice president for Environment and Community Relations Yrel Ventura.

“As important, this investment by the Yuchengco Group of Companies will add much-needed power to the Visayas grid, which has been plagued by constant red and yellow alerts recently,” he added.

The Visayas has faced tight power supply since May, prompting 21 yellow alerts and four red alerts this year as it relies heavily on imports from Luzon and Mindanao.

Likewise, the government is set to conduct a new round of green energy auction that would focus on the Visayas and Mindanao.

In April, PGEC added 25 MW from its Pangasinan solar project, while its 13.2-MW Nabas-2 Wind project in Aklan secured grid connection approval.

Aside from solar and wind, PGEC, the renewable energy arm of Yuchengco-led PetroEnergy Resources Corp., has also made investments in geothermal.