A month after connecting to Bohol's power grid, the Yuchengco-led PetroEnergy Resources Corp. announced that its Dagohoy Solar Project has been switched on and is expected to begin contributing to the grid.
In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange on Thursday, Nov. 21, PetroEnergy said that its unit, Dagohoy Green Energy Corp. (DGEC), in partnership with the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Bohol government, inaugurated Bohol's first utility-scale solar power plant with a 27-megawatt peak (MWp) capacity.
This project will provide an annual 41,000 megawatt-hours (MWh) of electricity, enough to power approximately 18,000 homes and reduce annual carbon emissions by 28,642 metric tons.
This power injection will help address the province's increasing electricity consumption driven by the growth of tourism and businesses. Previously, Bohol relied on aging diesel plants and imported power from neighboring Leyte and Cebu.
"The injection of power from the Dagohoy Solar Power Project to the Visayas grid is timely and vital to the booming tourism and economic landscape of Bohol," PetroEnergy said.
"Local establishments and tourism offices are experiencing an influx of local and international tourists, attributed to a shift in preference towards Bohol over other destinations in the country due to accessibility, new geopark and tourism sites, cultural experiences, and the warm hospitality of Boholanos," it added.
During construction, the Dagohoy Solar Project employed over 600 local workers, providing jobs in the area and nearby towns.
DOE Undersecretary Rowena L. Guevara commended DGEC and the local government for the solar farm's commissioning.
"The completion of this project exemplifies the government's efforts to accelerate the use of renewable energy sources to achieve a more energy-sufficient and climate-resilient Philippines through public-private partnerships," she said.
DGEC President Francisco Delfin expressed hope that the solar plant would encourage more renewable energy initiatives in the country, stating, "We hope this project serves as both an instrument and inspiration for local government units and communities to embrace and support more renewable energy initiatives, which will positively impact the environment and help build a more sustainable future for generations of Boholanos."
In October, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) approved the energization of the project as a load facility, and it has been successfully connected to the province's grid.