SMC GLOBAL LIGHT and Power Corp. (SGLPC), a part of the San Miguel group, is in search of to expand its proposed solar farm in Malita, Davao Occidental, aiming to deliver as much as 300 megawatts (MW) to the local grid.
In a filing with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the corporate proposed amending its environmental compliance certificate to extend the project’s capability to 300 MW from the originally planned 95 MW.
The P11.5-billion solar farm will cover 506.2255 hectares and can use 447,772 solar panels and 76 central inverters.
The corporate plans to develop the project in phases. Construction of the primary phase is scheduled to start by the third quarter of 2026, with full industrial operations targeted by the fourth quarter of 2028.
The project secured capability under the fourth round of the Department of Energy’s Green Energy Auction Program, a government initiative that auctions renewable energy capability from sources corresponding to ground-mounted solar.
“Renewable energy stays a key pillar of the Philippine government’s low-emission development strategy, geared toward addressing climate change, ensuring energy security, and expanding access to scrub energy,” the corporate said.
The corporate said the project supports the country’s renewable energy transition and will help strengthen energy supply as electricity demand rises.
The solar project is scheduled for public scoping on March 17. The activity is an early stage of the environmental impact assessment process, during which the project proponent will present an summary of the event and gather feedback from stakeholders.
SGLPC is a subsidiary of San Miguel Global Power Holdings Corp. (SMGP), the facility generation arm of San Miguel Corp. (SMC) led by Ramon S. Ang.
SMGP is among the many country’s largest power producers, with a diversified portfolio that features natural gas, coal, hydroelectric power, and battery energy storage systems.
As a part of its renewable energy program, the corporate goals to roll out the primary phase of solar projects with a combined capability of about 2,450 MW across Davao, Bulacan, and Isabela, with completion targeted by 2029. — Sheldeen Joy Talavera