Arthur Fuentes

Article (news)

Inara Solar, First Gen

Jekki Pascual

ABS-CBN News

MANILA – First Gen Corp broke ground Wednesday on its first utility-scale solar project, a 54-megawatt facility in Batangas province aimed at bridging the gap between clean energy and food security, the company said.The Inara Solar Power Plant, located in Tanauan City, marks a strategic expansion for the company as it targets a massive capacity increase to 13,000 megawatts by 2030, First Gen said. The ceremony was attended by Batangas Governor Vilma Santos-Recto and First Gen President Francis Giles Puno.Spanning 36 hectares, the project is designed for future scaling to 100 MW and will eventually integrate a battery energy storage system to ensure grid stability. “Malaking karagdagan ito sa pangangailangan ng ating lalawigan… Kasama na po dito ang ating mga businesses, mga households na pangangailangan,” said Santos-Recto, who welcomed the plant in Batangas, adding this will also open more job opportunities.The plant is expected to be operational by mid-2027. It will provide power to the Batangas Electric Cooperative (Batelec) II and the nearby First Philippine Industrial Park (FPIP), an economic zone hosting over 150 companies.“This becomes even more important in view of the fuel price shocks that the current conflict in the Middle East might trigger or create,” Santos-Recto said.The Inara solar plant will also incorporate a provision for agri-photovoltaics, which will allow crops to be planted under the solar panels. Possible crops that may be planted are root vegetables such as carrots, radish, potatoes, onions, green beans, and lettuce, among others.“The base height is usually less than one meter; in our case, our specification is one and a half meters. So there’s a lot of room to move below the solar panel. That way, we can continue to be productive on the agri side,” said Puno.“Energy production does not have to displace agriculture; the two can work together, allowing the same land to support both food production and clean energy,” he added.He also said that this is First Gen’s first utility-scale solar project and they may expand this project in the future. In the meantime, First Gen will also continue to upgrade its geothermal facilities and other renewable energy plants. “Geothermal and hydro form the deep foundations of our renewable portfolio, but they also require extraordinary patience, technical expertise, and long-term capital because of the complexity involved in developing them. Solar importantly complements these platforms,” Puno said.The move aligns with Manila’s goal to raise renewable energy’s share of the national power mix to 35 percent by 2030. Santos-Recto noted that &quot;more supply of renewable energy means that Batangas becomes an even more attractive investment destination.&quot;First Gen currently operates a 1,700-MW portfolio of hydro, geothermal, and wind assets. The firm is also expanding its footprint through major pumped storage hydro projects in Rizal and Laguna, alongside a partnership with Indonesia’s Sinar Mas for geothermal development.

Spanning 36 hectares, the project is designed for future scaling to 100 MW and will eventually integrate a battery energy storage system to ensure grid stability.

Spanning 36 hectares, the project is designed for future scaling to 100 MW and will eventually integrate a battery energy storage system to ensure grid stability.

First Gen breaks ground for 54-megawatt solar plant in Batangas

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First Gen breaks ground for 54-megawatt solar plant in Batangas

Jekki Pascual,

Arthur Fuentes,

ABS-CBN News

Published March 11, 2026 01:39 PM PHT

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Updated March 11, 2026 04:07 PM PHT

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First Gen Corp

renewable energy

solar

Batangas

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