MTerra Solar Phase 1 in the Philippines has declared commercial operations for 600 MWac of mid-merit capacity under its Power Supply Agreement (PSA) with Meralco, marking a major milestone for one of the world’s largest integrated solar and battery storage projects. Commercial operations began on 26 August 2026.
The declaration follows the issuance of the Final Certificate of Approval to Connect (FCATC) by the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), confirming the facility has met the requirements to safely and reliably connect and operate 950 MWac of solar capacity and 825 MW of battery energy storage within the national grid. A further 250 MWac under the same PSA is set to enter commercial operations in the coming months.
From groundbreaking to grid in under two years
Commercial operations follow the inauguration of MTerra Solar Phase 1 on 14 July 2026, which marked the energization of 1,373 MWac of solar PV capacity and 825 MW — equivalent to 3,300 MWh — of battery energy storage, making it at that time the world’s largest integrated solar PV and battery energy storage facility on a single site.
The project’s progression from groundbreaking in November 2024 to inauguration in July 2026 and now commercial operations — spanning less than two years — ranks among the most significant renewable energy achievements in the country. Construction Review Online first reported on the development as the world’s largest solar farm took shape in Nueva Ecija, targeting 3.5 GW of solar capacity.
“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,” said Dennis B. Jordan, President and CEO of MGEN Renewables and MTerra Solar. He credited the FCATC to close coordination between the project teams, NGCP, and regulators including the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), and to the backing of investor Actis.
Solar paired with storage at scale
Unlike a conventional solar facility, MTerra Solar can store a significant portion of the electricity it produces, allowing it to provide more consistent and dependable power while supporting the stability of the national grid. That combination makes it possible for large-scale renewable energy to meet the Philippines’ growing demand for reliable, affordable and sustainable electricity.
The project connects to the grid via a 500-kilovolt (kV) transmission line linking it to the Nagsaag–San Jose Transmission Line.
“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 Corporation (MGEN).
Emmanuel V. Rubio, President and CEO of MGEN, said the milestone marked a shift from construction to delivery. “MTerra Solar is no longer simply a vision or a project under construction — it is now delivering power to the Filipino people,” he said, adding that it demonstrates “what can be achieved when government and the private sector work together toward a shared national purpose.”
For investor Actis, the pace was central to the achievement. “Given the scale of the project, taking it from groundbreaking to commercial power for Phase 1 in under two years is a huge achievement,” said Rahul Agrawal, Managing Director and Head of SEA Energy at 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.”
A cornerstone of the Philippine energy transition
At full build-out, MTerra Solar is expected to deliver 3,500 MWp of solar PV capacity paired with 4,500 MWh of battery storage, supplying clean energy to approximately 2.4 million households and avoiding 4.3 million tonnes of emissions annually. Actis’s US$600 million investment represents the Philippines’ largest foreign direct investment for a greenfield infrastructure project to date.
The project supports the Philippine Energy Plan and the government’s goal of raising renewable energy’s share of the power generation mix to 35% by 2030 and 50% by 2040. It is being developed in two phases across five municipalities in Nueva Ecija and Bulacan, with the first phase expected to complete in 2026 and the second a year later.
Project Factsheet: MTerra Solar
Project: MTerra Solar — integrated solar PV and battery energy storage facility
Location: Five municipalities across Nueva Ecija and Bulacan, Philippines
Developer / owner: Terra Solar Philippines Inc. — a joint investment of MGEN Renewable Energy (via subsidiary SP New Energy Corporation, SPNEC) and Actis
Offtaker: Meralco (Power Supply Agreement)
Phase 1 commercial operations: Declared 26 August 2026 (600 MWac mid-merit; further 250 MWac to follow)
Grid approval: Final Certificate of Approval to Connect (FCATC) issued by NGCP for 950 MWac solar and 825 MW BESS
Phase 1 energized capacity: 1,373 MWac solar PV and 825 MW / 3,300 MWh BESS
Full build-out: 3,500 MWp solar PV and 4,500 MWh BESS
Grid connection: 500 kV transmission line to the Nagsaag–San Jose Transmission Line
Investment: Actis US$600 million (Philippines’ largest greenfield infrastructure FDI to date)
Households served: Approximately 2.4 million
Emissions avoided: 4.3 million tonnes a year
Timeline: Groundbreaking November 2024; Phase 1 inaugurated July 2026; Phase 1 commercial operations August 2026; Phase 2 expected 2027
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