Aboitiz Renewables switches on sixth solar project as RE pipeline hits 1,000 MW
Aboitiz Renewables Inc. (ARI) has expanded its clean power portfolio by energizing its third solar facility in Pangasinan province.
In a statement on Thursday, Nov. 13, the renewable energy unit of Aboitiz Power Corp. announced the switch-on of the 92.55 megawatt-peak (MWp) San Manuel solar plant, raising the company’s total solar capacity to approximately 614 MW.
The San Manuel project is the sixth solar facility developed and completed under ARI’s operations. It helps the company toward its initial goal of energizing more than 300 MWp of solar power by December.
The facility follows two other solar assets in Pangasinan: the 95 MWp Cayanga-Bugallon solar plant and the 159 MWp Laoag solar plant in Aguilar.
ARI President Jimmy Villaroman said the project’s energization contributes to the Philippines' energy transition goals. The company remains committed to developing more than 1,000 MW of renewable energy projects in the pipeline.
“Pangasinan’s strong solar potential and available grid connections make it ideal for solar development,” Villaroman said. “We thank the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) for helping us bring this project online, and most especially, our hardworking team whose dedication made this milestone possible.”
ARI also recently secured a grid connection for the 173 MWp Calatrava solar power plant in Negros Occidental, which it says is the largest operating solar and variable renewable energy facility in the Visayas.
In July, the company disclosed plans to switch on another solar facility in Zambales, which, once realized, is expected to be ARI’s largest solar development to date.
Aside from its solar expansion, ARI previously acquired full ownership of the 90 MW Libmanan onshore wind project in Camarines Sur from its former partner, Mainstream Renewable Power Philippines Holdings B.V.
ARI serves as the renewable-energy arm of AboitizPower, which also owns conventional (thermal baseload) plants alongside hydropower and geothermal assets. AboitizPower handles power generation, distribution, and retail electricity services.
Beyond its focus on renewables, AboitizPower is also set to add more hydropower capacity to its portfolio. The company won a bid in July for the 797-megawatt (MW) Caliraya-Botocan-Kalayaan (CBK) hydroelectric plant complex in Laguna in a ₱36-billion acquisition.