Renewable energy firm Citicore Power, Inc. has launched its first agro-solar power project in Tarlac City, which combines its turmeric plantation with its solar farm.

Based on a report from The Philippine Star, Citicore used its turmeric plantation, which it set up last year, as its base for the project. The plantation would then cover the firm’s five solar farms across Luzon.

A year on, the project jointly yielded around 40,000 kilos of turmeric valued at Php1 million, while generating 71 megawatts (MW) of solar power.

Citicore said it plans to plant other high-value crops in its solar farms to maximize yields during the planting season, while addressing climate change concerns. It added that the agro-solar project exhibits a symbiotic relationship between power generation and crop production, alongside social development.

The company currently has 163MW in its solar power generation portfolio with projects located in other areas in Tarlac, as well as Bataan, Bulacan, Pampanga, Negros Occidental, Cebu, and South Cotabato. It also entered into a join venture with AC Energy for a 72MW solar plant in Arayat and Mexico, Pampanga, which is targeted for commercial operations by the summer of 2022.

The agro-solar model also provides opportunities for farmers to take on non-conventional crop growing methods under solar panels to generate income, Citicore said.

Photo from Citicore Facebook page.