Project sponsor-firm MGen Renewable Energy Inc. (MGreen), which is a subsidiary of Meralco PowerGen, has cemented a deal with affiliate Meralco Industrial Engineering Services Corporation (MIESCOR) for some construction components in the conglomerate’s $4.0 billion Terra Solar project.

In a statement to the media, MGen indicated that MIESCOR was tapped “to design and construct critical infrastructure that will connect the solar plant to the grid.”

Key on its deliverables to the Terra Solar Philippines Inc. (TSPI) venture would be the 34.5/230/500-kilovolt (kV) main collector substation; as well as two 34.5/230 kV solar photovoltaic (PV) satellite collector substations; and two double-circuit 230-kV transmission lines.

MGen previously conveyed that the main engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor for its Terra Solar project would be Chinese firm Fujian Electric Power Engineering Co.; while MIESCOR is a sub-contractor.

MIESCOR President and Chief Executive Officer Richard O. Ochava reiterated that their company will “play a crucial role in connecting the Terra Solar plant to the grid.”

He added that “MIESCOR is fully committed to advancing renewable energy infrastructure,” while emphasizing that the company’s goal “is to become a leading force in the renewable energy sector and in promoting sustainable development in the Philippines.”

MGen said “site operations are already underway for the project, with the team dedicated to hitting energization targets on time.”

The first phase of the installation will be of 2,500 megawatt-peak (MWp) capacity and will reach commercial operations date (COD) by 2026; while the second phase of additional 1,000MW will be on on-line by 2027.

When completed, Terra Solar is seen as the single biggest solar farm ever developed commercially - not just in the Philippines but in the Asian region or even worldwide.

The facility has been blueprinted for 3,500 megawatts of aggregate solar PV installations to be coupled with 4,500-megawatt hours (MWh) of battery energy storage systems – and these shall be sited across tracts of land in Bulacan and Nueva Ecija.

The generated capacity of the solar plant will be fed to the load network of Manila Electric Company (Meralco), and that is intended to satiate at least 850MW of its mid-merit capacity requirements.