MTerra Solar Phase 1 starts commercial operations

PASIG CITY — MTerra Solar Phase 1 has begun commercial operations for 600 MWac of mid-merit capacity under its power supply agreement with Manila Electric Co. (Meralco), marking another milestone for the large-scale solar and battery storage project.

Commercial operations took effect Aug. 26, 2026, after the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) issued the project’s Final Certificate of Approval to Connect, or FCATC.

The approval confirms that the facility met requirements to safely and reliably connect and operate 950 MWac of solar capacity and 825 MW of battery energy storage system, or BESS, within the national grid.

The start of commercial service is significant for electricity consumers because the project pairs large-scale renewable generation with battery storage, allowing solar power to be stored and delivered more consistently while helping support grid stability as electricity demand grows.

Project teams completed the required tests in the weeks before the certification, clearing the way for grid approval and Phase 1 commercial operations.

“This is a significant step toward the future of energy in the Philippines. By combining solar power with battery storage at an unprecedented scale, we’re demonstrating how renewable energy can strengthen energy security, support economic growth, and build a more resilient and sustainable power system for our country,” said Manuel V. Pangilinan, chairman of Meralco and Meralco PowerGen Corp. (MGEN).

The commercial milestone follows the inauguration of MTerra Solar Phase 1 on July 14, 2026.

At the inauguration, the project marked the energization of 1,373 MWac of solar photovoltaic capacity and 825 MW, equivalent to 3,300 MWh, of battery energy storage.

The company said the configuration made MTerra Solar, at the time, the world’s largest integrated solar photovoltaic and battery energy storage facility on a single site.

Phase 1 progressed from groundbreaking in November 2024 to inauguration in July 2026 and commercial operations in less than two years.

Another 250 MWac of capacity under the same Meralco power supply agreement is scheduled to enter commercial operations in the coming months.

“MTerra Solar is proof that renewable energy can be developed at unprecedented scale while meeting the rigorous requirements necessary to operate safely and reliably within the grid. The issuance of the FCATC reflects the hard work of our people, the trust of our investors most especially Actis, and our strong partnership with NGCP under the guidance and support of our regulators –the DOE and the ERC. The close coordination among the agencies, system operator, and project teams was critical in delivering this remarkable achievement,” said Dennis B. Jordan, president and CEO of MGEN Renewables and MTerra Solar.

MTerra Solar is a joint investment of MGEN and global infrastructure investor Actis.

Unlike a conventional solar facility that depends on real-time sunlight availability, the project can store a significant portion of the electricity it generates in its battery system for later delivery.

That capability is intended to provide more consistent and dependable electricity while supporting national grid stability and the integration of large volumes of renewable energy.

The project also includes a 500-kilovolt transmission line connecting the facility to the Nagsaag-San Jose Transmission Line, providing the infrastructure needed to move its generation into the national grid.

“MTerra Solar is no longer simply a vision or a project under construction—it is now delivering power to the Filipino people. Reaching commercial operations reflects the determination, discipline, and exceptional work of thousands of people who helped bring this landmark facility to life. It also demonstrates what can be achieved when government and the private sector work together toward a shared national purpose,” Emmanuel V. Rubio, president and CEO of MGEN, shared.

“Given the scale of the project, taking it from groundbreaking to commercial power for Phase 1 in under two years is a huge achievement and testament to the operational capabilities of MGEN and Actis. With MTerra Solar’s commercial operations underway, we see renewables increasingly taking centre stage in the Philippines, providing clean, domestic, and secure power as energy demand rises,” said Rahul Agrawal, managing director and head of Southeast Asia Energy at Actis.

MTerra Solar forms a key part of MGEN’s expanding renewable energy portfolio and its broader strategy to support the Philippines’ energy transition.

At full scale, the project is expected to deliver 3,500 MWp of solar photovoltaic capacity paired with 4,500 MWh of battery energy storage.

Actis has worked with MGEN to jointly develop the project and has committed USD 600 million to MTerra Solar.

The companies described the Actis investment as the Philippines’ largest foreign direct investment to date in a greenfield infrastructure project.

The scale of MTerra Solar is expected to make it a cornerstone of MGEN’s renewable energy portfolio and a major contributor to efforts to build a cleaner and more secure power system.

The project also supports the Philippine Energy Plan and the government’s target of raising renewable energy’s share of the country’s power generation mix to 35% by 2030 and 50% by 2040.

Beyond expanding renewable generation, MTerra Solar demonstrates the level of infrastructure investment, storage capacity, and grid integration required as the Philippines seeks to meet increasing electricity demand while reducing dependence on conventional energy sources.

With commercial operations now underway for the first 600 MWac under its Meralco supply agreement, the project moves from construction and testing into actual electricity delivery as the remaining Phase 1 capacity prepares to follow in the coming months.