Cebu: The PHP7.5-billion Daanbantayan Solar Power Plant broke ground this week after its documentary requirements were fast-tracked by national government agencies (NGAs) and local government units (LGUs) under the Marcos administration’s green lane initiative. In a statement Thursday, the Board of Investments (BOI) said this project of Acciona Energia Global in Barangay Talisay, Daanbantayan, Cebu started its construction on March 16, seven months after the agency awarded the Green Lane Certificate to the developer.
According to Philippines News Agency, this project highlights the tangible impact of the Green Lane program, showcasing its success in attracting investors, particularly in renewable energy. It serves as a meaningful milestone, paving the way for more projects that advance the mission to promote green investments and create job opportunities for Filipinos, said Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary and BOI chairperson Ma. Cristina Roque.
This is the country’s first public-private partnership project in the energy sector, as the company partnered with the Cebu provincial government for the solar power plant. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. issued Executive Order 18, directing all NGAs and LGUs to accelerate the processing of permits and licenses for strategic investments like the Daanbantayan solar power facility. This project is considered a strategic investment as it is aligned with the government’s renewable energy (RE) goals, as well as the size of its capital and its impact on the local community.
Acciona chairperson and chief executive officer Jos© Manuel Entrecanales Domecq said the power plant has a peak capacity of 176 MW, with operations to commence next year. The 187-hectare solar power plant, which is a kilometer away from the Talisay substation of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines, will generate around 280 gigawatt-hours of clean energy annually that can serve 300,000 people. The project will also cut 259,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually.
“This plant is Acciona Energia’s first plant in the Philippines, and as you know, as have been repeated, the biggest under construction in the Visayas archipelago. This project supports the government’s goal of increasing the share of renewables in the energy mix, ensuring energy security, and promoting sustainable and inclusive economic growth,” he said.
