The Limbauan Solar Power Project (LSPP) in San Pablo, Isabela, Philippines is now using 52,000 solar panels supplied by Trinasolar. The facility has a total capacity of 40 megawatts direct current (MWdc). It is being developed by BKS Green Energy Corporation, which is a subsidiary of Rizal Green Energy Corporation. Rizal Green is a joint venture between PetroGreen Energy Corporation and Japan’s Taisei Corporation.
The solar project is expected to generate 59 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of electricity each year. This amount of energy could supply the needs of about 33,000 homes. The project may also lower carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 31,700 metric tons each year.
The project is split into two parts. The first part has a capacity of 6 MWdc and connects to the local electricity cooperative, Isabela Electric Cooperative-II (ISELCO-II). The second part, which is larger at 34 MWdc, will connect to the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) through a 69-kilovolt line. A 4.73-kilometer dedicated transmission line is being built to make the connection.
The solar panels used in this project are Trinasolar’s Vertex N modules. These panels have a power rating between 710 and 715 watts. The project has also included training programs to teach skills to local workers. Around 500 to 600 people are expected to work on the site during peak construction.
Other renewable energy efforts in the Philippines not widely reported include a rooftop solar installation by a small textile company in Batangas with a capacity of 300 kilowatts. A mini-grid pilot project is also under way on a small island in Palawan using a 250-kilowatt hybrid system that combines solar and battery storage. These projects are helping supply energy in areas not fully covered by the main grid.
