THE largest solar project in Southeast Asia and the 7th in the world was inaugurated in Cadiz City, Negros Occidental on Thursday.
The solar generation facility of Helios Solar Energy Corp. was expected to generate 132.5 megawatt (MW) in power.
Cadiz Mayor Patrick Escalante said a 200-hectare economic zone beside the solar farm was set to be built and a Chinese firm was setting up a facility to build solar panels.
The solar farm was developed through a partnership between Gregorio Araneta Inc. (GAI) and Soleq, one of Southeast Asia’s largest solar independent producers.
The Cadiz solar farm was estimated to produce 188,500 MW of solar power per year or enough to power an estimated 167,526 households, lower carbon emissions by 94,627 tons per year, equivalent of 10 years of carbon sequestered by planting 2.4 million trees.
Gregorio Araneta, Helios chairman, said the project underlines their commitment to support the country’s shift to more renewable energy.
“This project also demonstrates our country’s ability to develop world-class renewable energy projects and establishes the Philippines’ foothold as a front runner in renewable energy,” said Araneta, who was accompanied by his wife Irene.