In the face of a crisis in the Middle East, where fuel dependence is catastrophic, specifically during armed warfare, First Gen Corporation’s Inara 54-megawatt solar plant is now set to be built at Barangay Bilog-bilog, Tanauan City, Province of Batangas, following a successful groundbreaking ceremony.
Occupying a 36-hectare plot of land, it is anticipated to be functional by mid-2027 and has been meticulously designed with the capacity to expand to 100 megawatts in subsequent years, along with a battery energy storage system for operational flexibility and grid stability, in addition to the integration of agrivoltaics, or agri-photovoltaics (agri-PV), for agricultural crops to be planted under a solar panel.
In his remarks, First Gen President Francis Giles Puno makes it known that “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.”
Aside from cutting-edge features, the plant is meant to offer power to the Batangas Electric Cooperative (Batelec) II and First Gen’s sister company, the First Philippine Industrial Park (FPIP), which is 11 kilometers away from the premises.
As the 1st Class City becomes a habitat to such significant development, Tanauan Mayor Sonny Perez Collantes assures the local government’s support for the project and the opportunity it brings to the community:
“Naniniwala tayo na ang ganitong inisyatibo ay hindi lamang nagbibigay ng mas malinis na pinagkukunan ng enerhiya, kundi nagbubukas din ng mas maraming oportunidad para sa pag-unlad ng Lungsod ng Tanauan at Lalawigan ng Batangas.”
In a similar vein, Batangas Governor Vilma Santos-Recto sees such an act as crucial to the province and the Philippines due to an upward trend in fuel-related products, stating, “More supply of renewable energy in the province means more investors are coming in. Batangas will continue to thrive as the first investment destination for industries and locators. It can also increase employment opportunities for our fellow Batangueños.”
The Inara Solar Power Plant is predicted to yield approximately 330 new jobs throughout its completion.