MGEN Adds 152.7 MW of Solar Power

Meralco PowerGen Corp. (MGEN), through its renewable energy arm MGEN Renewable Energy Inc. (MGreen), has added 152.7 megawatts of clean energy to Luzon’s grid with the completion of three new solar power projects in early 2025.

The newly energized facilities include the 80.1 MWac Baras Solar in Rizal, the 52.8 MWac Cordon Solar in Isabela, and the 19.8 MWac Bongabon Solar in Nueva Ecija.

Together, the projects are expected to supply electricity to more than 154,000 households, while supporting regional energy security and job creation in host communities.

“Our expansion of MGreen Baras Solar is about helping communities, protecting the environment, and contributing to the country’s clean energy goals,” said Dennis B. Jordan, president and CEO of MGEN Renewable Energy Inc.

“This project reflects our commitment to building a greener future while bringing meaningful opportunities to the people of Baras and Rizal,” Jordan added during the solar plant’s recent inauguration.

The Baras Solar facility is now the first and only operational solar farm in Rizal province.

It employed more than 1,600 workers during construction, including 300 women, highlighting the role of renewable energy in supporting inclusive local employment.

Department of Energy Undersecretary Rowena Cristina Guevara, who served as keynote speaker at the launch, lauded the project as a model for clean energy development.

“Renewable energy is not just a source of power but also a source of employment,” Guevara said.

“These kinds of projects offer opportunities, foster economic growth, and pave the way for a brighter and more sustainable future,” she added.

The Bongabon Solar plant is the first project under the Department of Energy’s Green Energy Auction Program II (GEA II) to become operational.

Cordon Solar, meanwhile, is among the largest solar farms under GEA II in Region 2, supporting the government’s push for a more competitive and transparent renewable energy market.

With these new additions, MGEN’s total operational renewable energy portfolio has reached nearly 400 MWac across seven provinces, including Batangas, Ilocos Norte, Bulacan, and Tarlac.

The company is on pace to surpass its 1,500 MW renewables capacity goal by 2030.

One of MGEN’s flagship initiatives is the 3,500 MWp MTerra Solar project, which will be the largest integrated solar and battery energy storage facility in the world once completed.

The first phase of MTerra Solar is scheduled to be operational by February 2026.

Rizal Governor Nina Ricci Ynares expressed her support for the Baras Solar project, saying it contributes to energy reliability in the province and beyond.

Baras Mayor Wilfredo Robles also praised the development, noting its contribution to reducing carbon emissions and improving air quality.

The Department of Energy has set a target of achieving a 35 percent renewable energy share in the power generation mix by 2030, and 50 percent by 2040.

As of 2023, renewables account for just under 22 percent of the Philippines’ energy mix, according to DOE data.

Industry analysts have cited utility-scale solar as one of the fastest-growing segments in the country’s clean energy transition, aided by regulatory reforms and competitive auctions under the GEA framework.

MGEN, a wholly owned subsidiary of Manila Electric Co. (Meralco), has been steadily expanding its clean energy footprint to align with national climate goals and support grid decarbonization.