Citicore energizes 69-MW solar project in Negros Occidental

SAAVEDRA-LED Citicore Renewable Energy Corp. (CREC) has energized a 69-megawatt (MW) solar project in Negros Occidental, adding capacity to the Visayas grid ahead of the summer season.

The project spans 69 hectares in Silay City and is designed to support a potential expansion of up to 100 MW, the company said in a statement on Tuesday.

“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 Chief Executive Officer Oliver Tan.

“As one of our largest solar plants in Visayas to date, it demonstrates that our growth strategy extends beyond Luzon and anchored in strengthening energy security in the Visayas,” he added.

The new solar facility builds on CREC’s existing footprint in the province and complements its 25-MW solar power plant commissioned in 2016.

The project is the first in the company’s lineup for 2026, as it targets to energize six solar plants with a combined capacity of 484 MW this year.

CREC said it will also expand its AgroSolar Initiative, which uses land beneath solar panels to grow high-value crops while maintaining agricultural use.

“Negros Occidental has long been both an agricultural heartland and a renewable energy hub. By pairing solar generation with crop production, we demonstrate how energy infrastructure can co-exist with agriculture,” Mr. Tan said.

In 2025, CREC reported a 14% increase in net income to P1.15 billion, driven by higher revenues and cost management.

Consolidated revenues rose by 3% to P5.32 billion, supported by stronger electricity sales amounting to P1.81 billion.

CREC, directly and through its subsidiaries and joint ventures, manages a portfolio spanning renewable energy generation, project development, and retail electricity supply.

The company aims to scale up its renewable energy capacity to about 5 gigawatts by 2028.

To support this target, CREC has allocated around $2 billion this year to fund the rollout of more than one gigawatt of solar power projects. — Sheldeen Joy Talavera