A South Korean company is set to invest in a major renewable energy project in Sogod, Cebu. The planned 100-megawatt agrivoltaic solar power farm will support the region’s increasing energy needs. This initiative also aligns with the Philippines’ efforts to meet its renewable energy targets outlined in the National Renewable Energy Program for 2020-2040.
SelTech Co. Ltd., a company from Cheongju City, South Korea, has committed an investment of $100 million (approximately P5.7 billion) to develop a 100-megawatt agrivoltaic solar power farm in Sogod.
In late November 2024, SelTech Co. Ltd. and the Sogod local government formalized their partnership with a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The agreement, signed by Mayor Lisa Marie Durano-Streegan and SelTech’s Managing Director Bong Ho Cho, outlines plans for identifying a suitable site for the agrivoltaic solar farm, completing necessary regulatory processes, and ensuring operational assistance to move the project forward.
A portion of the MOU states, “In order to implement the above-mentioned project, the parties shall create a Technical Working Group to plan and establish relevant trainings, testing and evaluating cooperative activities, and conduct other relevant activities jointly decided.”
(Also read: AuroraPH Transforms Cebu’s Remote Schools with Solar Power and Tech)
Agrivoltaics in the Visayas
Sogod, a second-class municipality, lies about 77 kilometers north of Cebu City. The area has its share of fertile land, producing a variety of crops that are sold in local markets and even supplied to Cebu city.
The municipality’s strong agricultural foundation makes it an ideal site for agrivoltaic technology. This system combines solar power generation with crop cultivation, allowing the land to serve both farming and renewable energy production, benefiting the region’s agricultural output while addressing its energy needs.
In the Visayas, solar power is being integrated with agriculture to enhance food and energy security. The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) has invested over P735.6 million in solar-powered irrigation projects in Western Visayas, supporting remote farmers and providing reliable water during dry seasons and climate extremes.
Bacolod City also launched a study on agrivoltaics, combining solar power with farming to address challenges like extreme weather, land-use competition, and growing energy demand.
(Also read: Explainer: Cebu-Negros-Panay Grid Interconnection Line)
About SelTech
SelTech Co. Ltd., based in Cheongju City, South Korea, operates multiple domestic solar power plants and has expanded internationally since 2022, launching projects in the UAE, Kenya, Tanzania, and Sri Lanka.
According to its official website, SelTech is a well-established provider of electrical and automation solutions, specializing in the manufacturing, supplying, and installation of electrical panels, switchgear, cable tray systems, and industrial equipment.
SelTech also seeks to modernize power bill payments by partnering with Filipino-Korean company C PASS Topwallet. This collaboration will enable consumers to pay their bills securely through blockchain technology.
C PASS, along with Topjuan Tech, holds licenses from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to offer nationwide mobile payment solutions and already provides e-wallet services in Europe.
Sources:
https://www.seltechco.com/vn/modules8a78.html?name=gioithieu&newlang=english
https://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/korean-firm-eyes-solar-farm-in-sogod
https://www.philstar.com/the-freeman/cebu-lifestyle/2018/07/01/1829605/sogod-it-starts-here