Grid connection approved for 3.5 GW MTerra solar-plus-storage project

The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) of the Philippines has given the MTerra Solar Project permission to develop its own dedicated transmission facilities and connect to the Luzon grid. The MTerra Solar Project, under development by Terra Solar Philippines Inc. (TSPI), a wholly owned subsidiary of SP New Energy Corp, is a 3.5 GW solar and 4.5 GWh battery energy storage system (BESS) spread between the municipalities of Nueva Ecija and Bulacan on the island of Luzon. The project is being implemented in two phases, the first of which will consist of approximately 2.5 GW of solar alongside 3.3 MWh of BESS. According to the commission’s ruling, the project will be connected via a bus-in link to the existing 500 kV Nagsaag–San Jose transmission line, and another bus-in connection will be made to the proposed San Isidro 500 kV substation. However, the request from TSPI to operate and maintain these transmission facilities was rejected, as the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) will retain responsibility for their operation and maintenance, with TSPI covering any applicable service charges. 

The commission’s ruling also notes a possible delay in connecting to the planned San Isidro substation, as NGCP has not yet submitted its capital expenditure application for the project. According to the Philippines’ Transmission Development Plan, the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) anticipates the substation’s completion sometime between 2031 and 2040. ERC reports that construction of the related facilities is ongoing and approximately 90% complete, with total project costs estimated at PHP 14.2 billion (US $244.4 million). A progress update released in July indicated that 54% of the first phase of construction had been finished within just eight months, placing the project ahead of schedule, with 778 MW of solar capacity already installed. The first phase, which includes a 500 kV transmission line linking to the Nagsaag–San Jose connection, is expected to be completed by 2026.