Citicore energizes 125-MW Pangasinan solar farm

MANILA, Philippines — Fresh off the launch of a solar project in Negros Occidental, Citicore Renewable Energy Corp. (CREC) has switched on another large-scale solar farm – this time in Pangasinan.

The company chaired by tycoon Edgar Saavedra has begun commercial operations of its 125-megawatt-peak (MWp) Citicore Solar Pangasinan in the municipalities of Santa Barbara and Calasiao.

The project is projected to generate around 202 gigawatt-hours of clean energy annually, enough to power up to 100,000 households and avoid around 120,000 metric tons of carbon emissions.

“Our responsibility to deliver clean energy solutions includes not only sustainability but also resilience,” CREC president and CEO Oliver Tan said yesterday.

CS Pangasinan uses an elevated solar panel design tailored to local weather conditions. Raising the panels helps protect critical infrastructure from flooding while also improving airflow and drainage.

Beyond power generation, CREC is also expanding its pioneering agrosolar initiative by using the land beneath solar panels to cultivate high-value crops.

“Renewable energy can be thoughtfully designed, integrating stronger materials to mitigate external risks while considering benefits to our other initiatives such as agrosolar,” Tan said.

CS Pangasinan has secured a long-term offtake contract with the government through the second green energy auction round, providing revenue certainty for CREC.

Last month, CREC energized its 69-MWp CS Negros Occidental 2, boosting power supply in Visayas just in time for the dry season.