By Maria Romero | Daily Tribune
Global Business Power Corporation (GBP) subsidiary PH Renewables Inc. has started construction of a 115-megawatt (MW) solar power plant in Baras, Rizal. The project is expected to commence commercial operations in 2022.
The solar project marks GBP’s entry into the renewable energy market. It is located within a 135-hectare area inside the Philippine Communications Satellite Corporation’s (Philcomsat) property in Rizal.
“We have worked together with our partners to aid the growing demand for cleaner and affordable power supply. In response to the government’s push for renewable energy, we have persevered to finally commence construction of this timely project to fuel the nation’s progress,” GBP president Jaime T. Azurin said during the groundbreaking ceremony.
As a power generator in the Visayas and operations in the fast-growing Mindanao market, the solar plant in Rizal allows GBP to service the three major islands across the country.
China Energy Engineering Group Guangdong Electric Power Design Institute Co., Solenergy Systems, and China Energy Engineering Co., Ltd. were commissioned to provide the design, engineering, procurement, and construction of the plant facility.
GBP is wholly owned by Meralco PowerGen Corporation (MGen), the power generation arm of Manila Electric Company.
“We aim to transition to cleaner fuel sources by obtaining 1,500 MW of our power requirements from renewable energy in the next five years,” Meralco chief executive officer and president Ray C. Espinosa said.
MGen plans to build a total 1,500-MW renewable energy portfolio through 2027 as part of its commitment to help ensure energy security through clean, cost-competitive and sustainable power.
With a total gross capacity of 1,091 MW, GBP has diversified power generation facilities in Visayas and Mindanao, which are capable of supplying base, intermediate, peak load, and ancillary support.