Tantangan solar project to bring clean power to 82K homes

More than 82,000 households in Mindanao stand to gain from the Tantangan Solar Project in South Cotabato, the Department of Energy (DOE) said on Thursday, as the country continues to accelerate its transition to renewable energy.

Developed by Apolaki Seven, Inc. in partnership with Germany-based ib vogt GmbH, the solar facility has a total planned capacity of 99 megawatt peak (MWp) and is expected to generate over 150,000 megawatt hours (MWh) of clean energy annually.

The project broke ground on Wednesday and is expected to significantly reduce carbon dioxide emissions by an estimated 66,000 tons per year once operational.

“Today, we do more than break ground on a state-of-the-art solar facility — we celebrate a vital step toward our national energy aspirations under the National Renewable Energy Program,” said Energy Undersecretary Mylene Capongcol.

Capongcol emphasized the project's alignment with the Philippines’ renewable energy targets — raising the RE share in the power mix to 35 percent by 2030 and 50 percent by 2040.

Phase 1 of the project will deliver around 40 MW alternating current (MWAC) and is targeted for completion by December 31, 2026. This initial phase was awarded under the DOE’s Green Energy Auction Program 2 (GEA-2).

“This initial phase will mark a significant step towards realizing the project's full potential and delivering its promised benefits to the people of Mindanao,” the department said in a statement.

The Tantangan Solar Project adds to the growing pipeline of renewable energy developments across the country aimed at promoting energy security, reducing emissions, and expanding access to power in underserved areas.