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South Cleanergy Inc. (SCI), a renewable energy subsidiary of Aboitiz Renewables Inc., has filed a petition before the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to develop and operate a dedicated ₱512-million transmission facility that will connect its upcoming Luna Solar Power Project in Negros Occidental to the Visayas grid.
The company said the proposed facility will allow it to test, commission, and dispatch electricity from the 239.56-megawatt (MW) solar project once construction is completed. The transmission system will connect directly to the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines’ (NGCP) 230-kilovolt (kV) Cadiz Substation, located just under five kilometers from the solar site.
Dedicated Connection For Solar Power
SCI’s filing describes the project as a point-to-point limited transmission line, designed exclusively for the Luna Solar Power Project and its associated 65-MW battery energy storage system (BESS). Under the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA), such lines are restricted from serving other end-users or suppliers.
The company emphasized that a shorter, 4.95-kilometer double-circuit connection to the Cadiz substation was chosen over a 35-kilometer alternative route to another facility, which would have entailed higher costs and longer construction time.
SCI is also seeking provisional authority from the ERC, which would allow the company to begin construction and interconnection work while its application remains under review.
“The company needs to immediately test, commission, and dispatch the Luna Solar Power Project upon completion to avoid unnecessary delays that can lead to opportunity costs and contribute to the rising demand growth,” SCI said in its filing.
₱13.85-B Renewable Investment
The Luna Solar Power Project represents one of South Cleanergy’s largest planned developments to date. Valued at about ₱13.85 billion, the project will combine solar generation and battery storage to provide stable renewable energy supply to the Visayas grid.
Construction is expected to begin within the current quarter, with commercial operations targeted for the fourth quarter of 2027. The company earlier said the investment would cover feasibility studies, engineering design, permitting, construction, and environmental compliance.
According to SCI, the project aims to help address the region’s growing power demand while supporting the Philippines’ broader shift toward cleaner and more sustainable energy sources.
“The proposed power plant will not only supply enough electricity to Filipino households and businesses but will also contribute to national development,” the company said in an earlier statement.
Expanding Renewable Energy Portfolio
South Cleanergy’s parent firm, Aboitiz Renewables Inc. (ARI), serves as the renewable arm of Aboitiz Power Corp. It currently manages 34 renewable facilities across the country with a combined net sellable capacity of 1,418 MW.
ARI aims to grow its renewable energy portfolio to 4,600 MW by 2030, in line with the Department of Energy’s (DOE) targets to increase the share of renewable sources in the national energy mix.
The Luna project is among several initiatives under ARI’s pipeline designed to expand solar capacity in Visayas and Luzon while integrating advanced storage technology to stabilize variable renewable generation.
Source:
https://business.inquirer.net/568041/erc-asked-to-clear-p512-m-grid-link-for-negros-park
https://businessmirror.com.ph/2025/02/17/aboitiz-unit-plans-to-build-solar-farm-in-negros-occidental
https://business.inquirer.net/453872/aboitiz-power-ramps-up-expansion-into-re