Phase 1 of the MTerra Solar project has officially launched commercial operations, supplying 600 megawatts alternating current (MWac) of mid-merit capacity to the national grid following regulatory authorization.
Developer Meralco PowerGen Corporation (MGen) confirmed Thursday that the facility—recognized as the world’s largest operational integrated solar and energy storage installation—began operations on August 26.
The milestone followed the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines’ (NGCP) issuance of the Final Certificate of Approval to Connect (FCATC), following an official inauguration by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in July.
The grid operator granted clearance after verifying that the infrastructure met all grid safety and integration standards for 950 MWac of solar generation capacity alongside an 825 MW battery energy storage system (BESS).
Generated power is currently being delivered to Manila Electric Company (Meralco) under an active power supply agreement.
“This is a significant step toward the future of energy in the Philippines. By combining solar power with battery storage at an unprecedented scale, we’re demonstrating how renewable energy can strengthen energy security, support economic growth, and build a more resilient and sustainable power system for our country,” Meralco and MGen Chairman Manny V. Pangilinan said.
The first phase incorporates 1,373 MWac of solar photovoltaic capacity paired with an 825 MW / 3,300 MWh battery storage setup.
“The issuance of the FCATC reflects the hard work of our people, the trust of our investors —most especially Actis— and our strong partnership with NGCP under the guidance and support of our regulators, the DOE and the ERC,” stated Dennis Jordan, President and CEO of MGen Renewables and MTerra Solar.
“The close coordination among the agencies, system operator, and project teams was critical in delivering this remarkable achievement.”
Jordan added that the successful grid integration proves clean energy can be scaled rapidly while satisfying stringent reliability standards.