Solar energy has long been seen as a daytime only resource- abundant but unreliable once the sun sets. Citicore Renewable Energy Corporation (CREC), however, is challenging that assumption. They position solar paired with battery storage as a viable baseload power source that could reshape how renewable energy is deployed in the Philippines.

Speaking on the latest episode of Power Podcast, CREC President Oliver Tan says that solar, when designed and scaled properly, can deliver stable, round-the-clock electricity.

With the recent rollout of what it describes as the country’s first baseload solar plant, CREC is positioning solar + storage as a solution that challenges long-held assumptions about renewable energy limitations.

Breaking the limits of intermittent solar

For decades, solar has been categorized as an intermittent energy source, alongside wind. This means, unlike geothermal and hydropower which were long considered the only renewable baseload options, solar’s output fluctuates with sunlight, thus limiting its role in ensuring continuous supply.

This has shaped how planners and critics alike view solar’s place in the energy mix, but CREC believes that classification is beginning to shift.

“At the very end you will find out that solar and wind is not the solution for a sustainable supply of clean energy… it’s very volatile,” said Tan. “You need at the moment a green technology which is able to stabilize the grid.”

How storage is changing the equation

Battery energy storage allows solar plants to move beyond real-time generation and into controlled energy delivery.

“Through that technology, you’re able to achieve a baseload of renewable energy,” Tan explained.

By storing excess energy generated during the day and dispatching it during periods without sunlight, solar plants can smooth out fluctuations and maintain a more consistent output profile.

This combination of solar and storage effectively extends solar’s role from a daytime-only contributor to a potential 24/7 supplier.

Still, achieving baseload solar is not as simple as adding batteries. It requires significant scaling and careful system design.

“Yung sizing ng solar… you need to build like five times,” Tan said. “So for you to achieve a base load, five times dapat yung solar mo with the battery.”

This disproportionate sizing highlights a key trade-off: while solar can be stabilized, it comes at the cost of additional capacity and infrastructure. CREC acknowledges this distinction but maintains that the gap is narrowing as technology improves.

Falling costs, rising viability

What makes baseload solar increasingly feasible is the rapid decline in technology costs over the past decade, according to Tan.

“I think 10 years ago, you need to sell your solar somewhere at 9 pesos per kilowatt hour. Look at where we are today. Sub-4,” he explains.

Battery storage is following a similar trajectory. While once considered prohibitively expensive, growing demand and wider adoption are driving costs down, making integration more commercially viable.

These shifts are enabling developers like CREC to rethink how solar projects are designed. They now believe it is not just for generation, but for reliability as well.

Making storage the standard

For CREC, the move toward baseload solar is not a one-off experiment but a long-term strategy.

“Our goal has always been to complement our solar with battery,” Tan said. “So moving forward, all the solar plant that we will be building… lalagyan namin ng battery.”

The company is also looking to retrofit its existing solar portfolio with storage systems, reinforcing its commitment to reducing intermittency and improving grid compatibility.

This approach aligns with broader industry trends and recent policies, as lawmakers explore ways to manage congestion and variability in an increasingly renewable-heavy grid.

Reshaping the role of solar

The implications of baseload solar extend beyond individual projects. If proven at scale, it could redefine how solar fits into the Philippines’ energy mix.

Rather than serving only as a supplemental daytime source, solar could take on a more central role in meeting demand, especially in off-grid areas where other renewable resources are limited.

At the same time, CREC emphasizes that solar is not meant to replace geothermal or hydropower, but to complement them.

By combining flexibility, scalability, and improving reliability, solar with storage offers an additional pathway toward a more stable and diversified renewable energy system.

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