Aboitiz Renewables Secures Final Grid Approval For Largest Solar Facility in Visayas

Calatrava Solar Power Plant bolsters clean energy transition in Negros Occidental

Aboitiz Renewables, Inc. (ARI), the renewable energy subsidiary of Aboitiz Power Corporation, has secured the final regulatory approval needed to connect its Calatrava Solar Power Plant to the national grid.

The Calatrava Solar Power Plant in Negros Occidental, now the largest operating solar energy facility in the Visayas, has received full grid integration approval from NGCP. (Photo: AboitizPower)

The facility, located in San Isidro, Calatrava, Negros Occidental, now holds the distinction of being the largest operating solar and variable renewable energy (VRE) project in the Visayas region.

The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) granted the “Final Certificate of Approval to Connect” (FCATC) after confirming that the plant met all technical and operational requirements.

With an installed capacity of 137.4 megawatts (MWac), the Calatrava facility is expected to significantly enhance energy supply in the Visayas and contribute to national efforts to expand renewable energy integration.

“This milestone adds meaningful capacity to the grid and supports our country’s long-term energy goals,” said ARI President Jimmy Villaroman.

“We’re grateful for the strong coordination with NGCP, which allowed us to bring this project to life. It reinforces our commitment to delivering clean, affordable, and reliable energy to Filipino communities.”

The Calatrava plant is ARI’s second solar project in Negros Occidental and forms part of a broader renewable energy pipeline the company is aggressively building.

According to Villaroman, the facility not only supports the clean energy agenda but also helps electricity suppliers comply with their Renewable Portfolio Standards obligations.

Beyond the Visayas, ARI is preparing to energize two more solar power projects in Luzon. The Olongapo Solar Power Plant in Zambales is already 95 percent complete and scheduled for testing and commissioning in the third quarter of 2025.

Aboitiz Renewables President Jimmy Villaroman credits strong collaboration with NGCP in successfully bringing the Calatrava Solar Power Plant online. (Photo; AboitizPower)

Meanwhile, construction of the San Manuel Solar Power Plant in Pangasinan is progressing and is targeting the same operational timeline. These new facilities will be connected to NGCP’s Castillejos 230 kV and San Manuel 69 kV substations, respectively.

Villaroman added that the continued rollout of projects like Calatrava is a reflection of the company’s momentum in pushing forward the country’s clean energy transformation.

AboitizPower, one of the Philippines’ largest power producers, maintains a diversified energy mix that includes hydro, geothermal, and solar, alongside thermal plants to meet the country’s baseload and peak demands.

Through ARI, the company is committed to growing its Cleanergy portfolio and significantly increasing its renewable capacity by 2030.

As energy demands evolve, the successful integration of large-scale renewable projects like Calatrava signals progress—not only for Aboitiz Renewables but for the Philippines’ broader pursuit of a more secure and sustainable energy future.