Singapore-based solar power firm Soleq has reportedly launched its new 132.5MW solar farm in the Philippines, built at a cost of around PHP10bn ($213m).
Located in Cadiz City, Negros Occidental province, the solar facility was developed through a partnership between Gregorio Araneta Incorporated and Soleq.
Said to be the biggest in South East Asia and seventh largest worldwide, the facility is expected to generate more than 188.5GWh of electricity, which will be enough to power nearly 167,525 homes per annum, SeeNews Renewables reported.
The new project increases the total number of operational Filipino solar power plants to ten, totalling 377MW of installed capacity.
The province currently has power production capacity of 280MW to meet its power supply demands.
Cadiz Mayor Patrick Escalante was reported by Rappler as saying that the project is anticipated to generate PHP45m in annual revenues for the local government.
It is currently supplying 30MW of clean energy through the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines.
Escalante added: "Today, the farm’s efficiency rate is 80% amid the stormy weather. Since it started operating fully within almost three weeks already, it supplies huge part of the province’s average power demand of 200MW."
During construction, the project created more than 2,500 jobs.
Image: The solar facility was developed through a partnership between Gregorio Araneta Incorporated and Soleq. Photo: courtesy of graur codrin / FreeDigitalPhotos.net.
