Recently, the MTerra Solar project, the largest solar energy storage project in the Philippines, has officially received grid access approval from the Philippine Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC). The total installed capacity of the project is a 3.5GW photovoltaic power station, equipped with a 4.5GWh energy storage system. It is led by Meralco PowerGen and its subsidiary SP New Energy Corporation for development, and the British investment company Actis has acquired 40% of the project's equity for $600 million. China Energy Construction, China Power Construction, and local enterprise MIESCOR are jointly responsible for the construction of the project.

It is worth noting that although the project has been approved for grid access, the new substation can only be put into use between 2031-2040, and before that, only temporary access points can be used for power transmission. This situation highlights the structural contradiction between the construction of the power generation side and the upgrading of the grid side in Philippine power projects.

The project is currently progressing smoothly. The first phase of the project includes 1.5GW of photovoltaic and 2GWh of energy storage. As of July 2025, 54% of the construction work has been completed, exceeding expectations. The construction of transmission lines is also advancing rapidly, with 90% completed by September 2025. It will be connected to the existing 500 kV Nagsaag San Jose transmission line and San Isidro 500 kV substation through dedicated transmission facilities.

The smooth progress of this project injects strong impetus into the development of new energy in the Philippines, and also demonstrates the strength of Chinese enterprises in the field of overseas power engineering construction. However, the issue of grid access remains a key risk factor affecting the timely operation of new energy projects in the Philippines, and investors need to continue to pay attention and formulate response strategies in advance. Editor/Yang Beihua