The renewable energy landscape in Capiz is set for significant growth following the Department of Energy’s (DoE) approval of a major solar project.
PetroEnergy Resources Corp. (PERC), part of the Yuchengco Group, confirmed that its newly formed subsidiary, EcoSolar Energy (ESEC), has secured a Certificate of Authority (COA) for its upcoming 90- to 100-megawatt (MW) solar project.
Hiroki Hiwatashi, PGEC’s project manager, explained, “We will develop this in a land measuring 88 hectares which we own in the municipality of Panitan, Capiz. When completed, it will be PetroGreen Energy Corp.’s single biggest contiguous solar power facility.”
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Multi-sectoral support
Local support for the solar initiative has been solidified through extensive public consultations involving community members and key government agencies.
Residents from various barangays, alongside representatives from the Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), gathered to discuss the project and voiced their backing for its implementation.
PERC highlighted that prior to these consultations, endorsements had already been encouraged by the NCIP, civil society groups, and government officials, urging both residents and relevant agencies to rally behind the initiative.
Further cementing this support, the Panit-an Sanggunian Bayan—the local legislative council—officially passed a resolution endorsing the solar project earlier this month.
(Also read: PetroGreen Plans 98-MW Solar, 20-MW Storage Project in Capiz)
Project timeline
With the COA now in hand, ESEC has a one-year window to complete critical pre-development work for the project. This includes securing regulatory permits, conducting detailed feasibility studies, and preparing the project for a final investment decision. The company is also expected to file for a solar energy operating contract within that time frame, marking the next step toward full-scale development.
Construction is expected to kick off in 2026, with completion eyed by the end of 2027. As the first utility-scale renewable energy facility in Capiz, the project is poised to bring multiple benefits—including job creation, increased local revenue, and a more stable power supply for the province.
Upon completion, it will also mark a major milestone for PERC, becoming the company’s largest solar installation on a single site to date.
PERC is ramping up efforts to grow its renewable energy portfolio, targeting 500 MW of capacity by 2029—more than triple its current 145 MW. As part of this push, the company is fast-tracking the completion of two key projects: the 25-MW Bugallon solar plant in Pangasinan and the 40-MW Limbauan facility in Isabela, both scheduled to begin testing and commissioning later this year.
Sources:
https://tribune.net.ph/2025/05/13/doe-clears-100-mw-capiz-solar-project