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Manila Bulletin devider Business devider Trade & Industry devider Occidental Mindoro power hybrid project wins grid approval after two-year wait

Occidental Mindoro power hybrid project wins grid approval after two-year wait

Published Jan 12, 2026 12:01 am  |  Updated Jan 10, 2026 12:44 pm
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The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has authorized Occidental Mindoro Consolidated Power Corp. to connect its hybrid power facilities to the local grid, ending a nearly two-year wait for the project’s regulatory clearance.
According to the decision posted by the ERC, the power regulator allows OMCPC to develop point-to-point transmission lines for its 7.4-megawatt-peak solar photovoltaic facility and battery energy storage system.
The infrastructure will also link an 8.3-megawatt modular diesel-fired power plant to the system, according to a commission filing.
The project, which carries an estimated construction cost of ₱44 million, is intended to stabilize the energy supply in a province that has long struggled with power reliability and frequent outages.
While OMCPC is authorized to build the transmission assets, the ERC mandated that the National Power Corp. or the National Transmission Corp. will handle the actual operation and maintenance.
This requirement is designed to maintain the integrity and security of the regional power system, the regulator said. The project aims to provide a continuous power supply by leveraging the hybrid nature of the plant, using solar energy during the day and battery storage or diesel backup when renewable generation is unavailable.
OMCPC plans to sell the output from the solar and diesel facilities to the Occidental Mindoro Electric Cooperative Inc. through a power supply agreement.
The move is part of a broader effort by the regulator to diversify energy sources in off-grid and missionary areas, where dependence on expensive diesel fuel often leads to high retail rates and government subsidies.
In a separate move, the ERC said the agency is reviewing an application from Casilagan Solar Power Corp. to link its 45-megawatt-peak San Juan solar project to the main Luzon grid. Casilagan is seeking approval for a dedicated facility project valued at ₱385 million. This infrastructure would connect the solar farm to the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines’ 69-kilovolt Botolan substation.
The Casilagan project is divided into two phases to meet rising demand in the region. Commercial operations for the initial phase are scheduled for September 2026. The company is also planning a 14-megawatt-peak expansion, targeted for completion by the final quarter of this year. That expansion will utilize the existing connection point, requiring no additional infrastructure modifications.
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