Solar power facility to be built in New Clark City 

A US$33 million solar photovoltaic power plant is set to rise here in 2026, according to a report by Philippine News Agency.

Advancing New Clark City’s goal of fostering sustainable development, Sindicatum C-Solar Power Inc. (SCSPI), a subsidiary of Singapore-based renewable energy developer Gurin Energy Pte Ltd., has started the construction of the facility.

SCSPI and Gur%u012Bn Energy, joined by the Department of Energy (DOE), Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) and Union Bank of the Philippines, broke ground for the Capas Solar Power Project on a 40-hectare lot within New Clark City on April 11, marking the official start of the facility’s construction.

“[T]he Philippines has one of the most exciting opportunities for renewable energy in the world. Here in Capas, Tarlac, with the support of the BCDA, the local government, and the stakeholders in our community, we wanted to show our commitment to our workplans by having this groundbreaking [ceremony],” Jose Rafael Mendoza, president of SCSPI and country manager of Gur%u012Bn Energy, said during the groundbreaking.

“Putting together a solar facility requires work not only from the developer, but cooperation with multiple stakeholders. It truly is a combination of multiple talents.”

With a total investment commitment of USD33 million, the facility will have a total capacity of 38.81 megawatts peak (31.25 megawatts alternating current) upon its completion, which is targeted by January 2026.

The power plant will be connected to the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines’ substation in Concepcion town via a 69-kilovolt transmission line.

The project seeks to boost the renewable sector’s share in the Philippines’ total energy mix, and to address the power requirements of locators and residents in New Clark City and the Tarlac province.

“This proposed solar project would definitely add to our target of achieving 35 percent of renewable energy share in the power generation mix by 2030…With this renewable energy plant, which will be operational by next year, it will add significant energy generation, especially to the Luzon grid,” Ruby de Guzman, assistant director of DOE’s Renewable Energy Management Bureau, said.

“This solar power project will not only generate the energy for New Clark City, but will also bring skills, employment and economic prosperity to the local community, proving that progress can go hand in hand with innovation and sustainability,” Erwin Kenneth Peralta, vice president for Investment Promotions and Marketing of the BCDA, said.

Gur%u012Bn Energy, backed by New Zealand-based Infratil Ltd., is a renewable energy provider with investments in several wind and solar energy projects across Asia, including the Philippines.