The world’s largest solar farm is taking shape in NEcija in the Philippines as construction is set to commence. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. led the groundbreaking of the solar project on Thursday, a monumental achievement. The Meralco Terra (MTerra) Solar Project is expected to be the largest integrated solar and battery facility globally. In his speech in Nueva Ecija, the president noted the significance of the landmark project in the Philippines. He said it would put the country on the map as a leader in renewable energy.
Furthermore, he added that with an investment of over $3.4 billion, the project demonstrated the confidence of the nation’s stakeholders. He also noted that it showed the Philippines’s “commitment to securing a stable, steady, reliable, and sustainable power supply.” The government has shown accolades for the project, noting its importance in ensuring sustainable energy. Once completed, the MTerra Solar project will power over 2 million households.
Project Summary:
Location: Philippines
Capacity: 3.5 GW
Significance: World’s Largest Solar Farm
Project duration: 3 years
Cost of Project: US$3.5 Billion
The Significance of the World’s Largest Solar Farm
Apart from ensuring a sustainable power supply, the world’s largest solar farm is expected to have numerous benefits. One of these includes the reduction of carbon emissions in Nueva Ecija. It will also meet the growing demand of electricity in the Philippines, as its economy develops. The president noted that, “once fully operational by 2027, this facility will deliver 3.5GW peak of solar power to the Luzon grid. Moreover, 4.5GW-hour will be battery energy storage.” His remarks were appreciated by many as he further noted that the solar farm would reduce carbon emissions by more than 4.3 million metric tons annually.
In perspective, he equated the farm’s impact to removing 3 million gasoline-powered cars from the roads. This is a decisive action that helps the world address global warming and climate change. Apart from benefitting locals, the project is expected to create over 10,000 job opportunities. It will also boost local economies and open doors for growth and development in the country. Over the next decade, the plant is expected to generate over $390 million in financial benefits. Furthermore, the funds generated may be channeled in other areas of the economy, creating progress in the Philippines.
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The Scope of Implementation on the Multi-Billion MTerra Solar Project
The implementation on the world’s largest solar farm aims to span to 3,500 hectares over five towns. It will cover towns in Nueva Ecija and Bulacan. It will be connected to the existing 500-kiloVolt (500kV) Nagsaag-San Jose Transmission Line. Later, it will be linked to the upcoming 500-kV Nagsaag-Marilao Transmission Line. Expected to cost about $3.5 billion, the facility will have a 3.5GW peak photovoltaic capacity. Furthermore, it will be complemented by a 4.5GW-hours battery energy storage system (BESS). The scope also entails the construction of the MTerra solar project in phases, with the first phase covering an initial capacity of 2,500MW. “We are working towards a steady and reliable power supply that will meet the demands of today and continuously fuel our ambitions for tomorrow,” President Marco noted. “Projects like Terra Solar bring us closer to that vision,” he added.
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