The Department of Energy (DOE) said Stage 1 of the MTerra Solar Project has reached a critical grid milestone following the energization and cut-in of its 500-kilovolt (kV) substation along the Nagsaag–San Jose 500 kV Line 2 on December 21, 2025. The facility, operated by Terra Solar Philippines, Inc., will connect 364 megawatts (MW) of the project’s planned 2,500-MW solar capacity with battery energy storage systems (BESS). Commercial operations for Stage 1 are targeted for Q1 2026.

The update comes as the DOE continues to monitor the timely completion of 200 power generation projects nationwide, a directive laid out by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in his fourth State of the Nation Address.

As of November 2025, the DOE reported 956 MW of new generation capacity added across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, complemented by 160 MW of new energy storage capacity in Luzon and Visayas. The additions came from 14 power plants—12 renewable energy facilities, one oil-based plant, andone natural gas-fired plant—most of which entered commissioning in the second half of 2025.

“These additions strengthen the grid’s ability to meet peak demand, reduce supply shortfall risks, and improve operational flexibility,” the DOE said, noting that renewables account for the bulk of new capacity.

To keep projects on schedule, the agency said it is intensifying coordination with proponents and the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines on grid readiness, while tracking construction and commissioning milestones. The DOE is also flagging potential bottlenecks early, including permitting, right-of-way, equipment delivery, and site-level issues.

With MTerra Solar Stage 1 moving closer to commercial operation, the DOE said it will continue working with NGCP and project developers to ensure safety and interconnection standards are met, while maintaining close oversight of the remaining projects in the 200-plant pipeline to support system reliability and energy security nationwide.

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