Citicore Renewable Energy Corporation (CREC) has energized a 69-megawatt peak (MWp) solar facility in Silay City, Negros Occidental, adding new capacity to the Visayas grid ahead of the high-demand summer months.

The Citicore Solar Negros Occidental 2 plant comes online as supply margins typically tighten during the dry season, when demand spikes and hydropower output may be constrained. The project is expected to help stabilize the Visayas grid while contributing to the country’s renewable energy targets.

“Delivering this project ahead of the summer peak demonstrates our ability to deliver dependable capacity when the system needs it most,” said CREC President and CEO Oliver Tan. “As one of our largest solar plants in Visayas to date, it demonstrates that our growth strategy extends beyond Luzon and is anchored in strengthening energy security in the Visayas,” he added.

The facility spans 69 hectares in Barangay Eustaquio Lopez and is designed for potential expansion to 100MWp. It builds on CREC’s existing presence in Negros Occidental, where a separate 25MWp solar plant is already in operation.

The project is part of the Department of Energy’s second Green Energy Auction Program 2 (GEA-2), a key policy mechanism aimed at accelerating renewable energy deployment through competitive procurement.

CREC said the Negros Occidental 2 plant is its sixth energized project under the program. “This is our 6th out of 12 GEA-2 Projects energized, another 4 plants ready for energization by April, with the last 2 plants to be energized in the next couple of months, completing all GEA-2 projects we’ve won,” Tan said.

Energy Secretary Sharon Garin recently inspected the site and cited the project’s timely delivery, according to the company.

CREC said it plans to roll out its AgroSolar initiative at the site, allowing agricultural use of land beneath solar panels for high-value crops—an approach positioned to support both food security and local livelihoods.

The energization forms part of CREC’s broader target to deliver 5 gigawatts of capacity over five years, as developers ramp up renewable installations to meet policy targets and rising electricity demand.

With more GEA-2 projects nearing completion, will the pace of renewable additions be enough to offset seasonal supply risks in the Visayas grid?

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