DOE tracks 200 power projects as Terra Solar advances

The Department of Energy said Stage 1 of the Terra Solar Project is moving through key grid interconnection milestones as part of the agency’s monitoring of 200 power generation projects aimed at strengthening energy security.

The DOE said Stage 1 is advancing coordination work with the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines after the energization and cut-in of the Terra Solar 500-kilovolt substation on 21 December 2025 along the Nagsaag San Jose 500 kV Line 2.

Stage 1 represents 364 megawatts of the project’s planned 2,500 MW solar capacity with battery energy storage systems, and is operated by Terra Solar Philippines, Inc., according to the DOE.

Commercial operation of Stage 1 is expected in the first quarter of 2026, the DOE said.

The update comes as President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., in his 4th State of the Nation Address, directed the DOE to accelerate the construction of 200 power generation projects over the next three years to strengthen the country’s energy security.

The DOE said it continues to track project progress and coordinate closely with stakeholders to ensure committed capacity is delivered on schedule and in a manner consistent with safety and grid reliability requirements.

Energy planners have increasingly emphasized reliability and timely capacity additions as the country’s economy grows and electricity demand rises, putting pressure on grids to meet peak load while maintaining stable operations.

As of November 2025, the DOE said about 956 MW of new power generation capacity have been added to the Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao grids.

The DOE said those additions were complemented by 160 MW of new energy storage capacity located in Luzon and Visayas.

The 956 MW of new generation capacity came from fourteen power plants, the DOE said.

The DOE said the 14 plants include twelve facilities using renewable energy technologies, one oil-based power plant, and one natural gas-fired power plant, most of which entered commissioning in the second half of 2025.

Collectively, the DOE said the projects strengthen the grid’s ability to meet peak demand, reduce the risk of supply shortfalls, and improve operational flexibility in managing baseload requirements and variable demand.

To help ensure that committed capacity is delivered as scheduled, the DOE said it is implementing active project monitoring across generation and energy storage developments.

The DOE said its monitoring includes close coordination with project proponents and NGCP on grid interconnection readiness, regular tracking of construction and commissioning milestones, and early identification of bottlenecks that may affect timelines.

The DOE listed potential bottlenecks as permitting constraints, right-of-way issues, equipment delivery risks, and site level implementation challenges.

The DOE said it aims to strengthen accountability, address issues before they escalate into delays, and ensure new capacity additions can reliably support the grid when they are needed most.

As Terra Solar Stage 1 advances toward energization, the DOE said it will continue working closely with NGCP and the project proponent to ensure grid interconnection requirements and safety standards are met and key commissioning milestones remain on track.

The DOE said it will likewise maintain close monitoring of other committed projects under the 200-power-plant pipeline to support timely integration of new generation and strengthen system reliability and energy security.