CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – Citicore Renewable Energy Corp. (CREC) broke ground in Magalang, Pampanga on Aug. 5 for the country’s first embedded solar facility directly linked to distribution utility Pampanga 1 Electric Cooperative (Pelco 1).
Designed to have a capacity of 41 megawatt-peak (MWp) complemented with a 53-megawatt-hour battery energy storage system, the project marks the Philippines’ inaugural Integrated Renewable Energy and Energy Storage System facility directly connected to a regional utility franchise grid.
CREC said that unlike traditional utility-scale solar farms that feed power into the high-voltage transmission grid which incur transmission fees and line losses before reaching consumers, embedded solar plants inject electricity straight into an electric cooperative’s localized distribution circuit.
By embedding generation directly where electricity is consumed and adding utility-scale battery backup, the facility can smooth out solar intermittency, store excess midday power, and dispatch electricity during peak demand hours, directly lowering system losses while helping cooperatives comply with the government’s Renewable Portfolio Standards mandates, CREC furthered.
“CREC’s long-standing partnership with Pelco I since 2024 is really about creating tailor-fit energy solutions meant to ease the burden of soaring electricity costs to the cooperative’s member-consumer-owners,” noted Citicore Energy Solutions Inc. president Jerard Garcia during the groundbreaking ceremony.
Targeted for completion in 2027, the facility is eyed to distribute sufficient and stable power supply directly to households and businesses across PELCO I’s service area covering the towns of Arayat, Candaba, Magalang, Mexico, San Luis, and Sta. Ana.
“This marks a monumental milestone in the history of Pelco I. We are witnessing the realization of a long-term dream,” said Pelco I general manager Engr. Allan David.
For Magalang Mayor Malu Paras-Lacson, the facility will be a boon to her constituents. “Maragul tamu pasalamat keng Citicore at Pelco 1 uling ken yang balen tamu mitalakad ing power plant ayni. Panibayung investment, maragul a investment na siguradung muna lang makinabang reng Magaleños.”
The project is CREC’s third in Pampanga following the activation of the 115-MWp Arayat-Mexico solar park and the 42-MWp Citicore Solar Pampanga 1. With media reports/Photos: Mayor Malu Lacson FB Page
