Leviste exits Terra Solar board as MGen takes control of giant project
Meralco PowerGen Corp. has overhauled the board of its Terra Solar unit following the departure of Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste, as the developer moves to bring the first phase of what is poised to be the world’s largest solar array into commercial operation.
The utility’s power generation arm, known as MGen, appointed its President and Chief Executive Officer Emmanuel V. Rubio to the board of Terra Solar Philippines Inc., the company said in a statement Friday, Jan. 23. The leadership transition comes as the project prepares for its initial commissioning phase this quarter.
The massive facility, which spans provinces in Nueva Ecija and Bulacan, features 3,500 megawatts-peak of solar capacity coupled with a 4,500 megawatt-hour battery energy storage system.
Under the current development timeline, the project is expected to expand its capacity by August 2026, with a second phase scheduled to begin in 2027.
Rubio described the board reorganization as a natural progression for the company as it shifts from a pure development play toward active power generation.
Strengthening the board at this stage is intended to ensure closer alignment between strategic oversight and the technical demands of system integration as the project begins feeding clean power into the Luzon grid.
The project recently reached a technical milestone by energizing its 500-kilovolt substation along the Nagsaag-San Jose transmission line. This infrastructure is critical for the facility’s ability to transmit large-scale solar power into the national backbone.
The development is a joint investment between MGen Renewable Energy Holdings Inc. and Singapore-based private equity firm Actis.
MGen Renewable was previously known as SP New Energy Corp., the firm founded by Leviste before the Manila Electric Co. subsidiary took a controlling stake. MGen noted that the rebranding of the unit in August 2025 was part of a broader “One MGen” strategy aimed at consolidating its diverse energy portfolio.
Once fully operational, the multibillion-peso solar farm is projected to supply electricity to approximately 2.4 million households. It is also expected to offset roughly 4.3 million tons of carbon emissions annually, supporting the Philippines' broader transition away from coal-fired power.