ERC Approves Transmission for Solar Projects

The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has approved the development of dedicated transmission facilities for two significant solar power projects, facilitating their direct connection to the national grid.

San Isidro Solar Power Corp. (SISPC) received provisional authority to construct point-to-point limited transmission facilities. These will connect its 280-megawatt peak (MWp) solar plant in Leyte to the Visayas grid.

Initially, the connection will be through the existing 230-kilovolt (kV) Tabango Substation, with plans for a permanent link to the proposed 230-kV Tugas substation.

SISPC estimates the transmission facility’s cost at approximately PHP 1.659 billion and aims to complete the solar project by the end of this year.

Similarly, RASLAG Corp. has been authorized to develop transmission facilities for its 36.646-MWp RASLAG IV solar plant. This project will connect via the 69-kV Mexico-Clark Line 1, operated by the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP). RASLAG has commenced testing and commissioning, projecting the transmission asset’s cost at PHP 163.232 million.

These approvals align with the Philippines’ broader push for renewable energy. The National Renewable Energy Program (NREP) aims to significantly increase renewable energy’s share in the country’s power generation mix by 2040, reducing reliance on fossil fuels.

In January 2025, the Philippines and UAE’s Masdar agreed on a $15 billion renewable energy project, further emphasizing the country’s commitment to sustainable energy.