Terra Solar's 3,500-MW project gets ERC nod to connect to NGCP line
In its pursuit of becoming the world’s largest solar farm, the Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) Hybrid Terra Solar project has been granted regulatory approval to connect to the Luzon grid.
The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has approved the 3,500 megawatt peak (MWp) photovoltaic (PV) solar project and its 4,500 MW-hour (MWh) BESS to link the assets to dedicated point-to-point transmission facilities.
This transmission line will then connect via a bus-in along the Nagsaag-San Jose 500 kilovolt (kV) transmission line, which is operated by the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP).
The facilities, as submitted by Terra Solar Philippines, Inc. (TSPI), are valued at ₱14 billion. They will ultimately have a final and direct connection to NGCP’s San Isidro 500 kV substation.
However, the ERC noted a potential delay: “Based on the latest approved 2024-2050 transmission development plan (TDP), the estimated time of completion of the NGCP San Isidro 500 kV substation is 2031 to 2040.”
The commission added that “NGCP has yet to file for the approval of the Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) application for the San Isidro substation, notwithstanding its inclusion in the 2040-2050 TDP.”
TSPI, a wholly owned subsidiary of SP New Energy Corp. (SPNEC), is developing the solar facility in two phases. The initial phase will have 2,500 MWdc PV capacity and approximately 825 MW BESS, while the second phase will include about 1,000 MWdc PV and 300 MW BESS.
The development spans five municipalities between Nueva Ecija and Bulacan.
SPNEC, the parent company, has been acquired by Meralco PowerGen Corp. (MGen), the power generation arm of Manila Electric Co. (Meralco). The project is also expected to secure an 850 MW mid-merit power supply agreement (PSA) with Meralco.