MANILA -- President Ferdinand Marcos Jr on Thursday led the groundbreaking of the Meralco Terra Solar Project, considered the largest integrated solar and battery storage facility in the world. 

'World’s largest solar project’ breaks ground in PH, says SPNEC

Once completed in 2027, the $4 billion, 3,500-hectare project in Nueva Ecija by Terra Solar Philippines Inc (TSPI) is expected to supply clean energy to about 2.4 million households.

It can also reduce carbon emissions by an estimated 4.3 million tons annually, equivalent to removing over 3 million gasoline-powered vehicles from roads. 

It will have a capacity of 3,500 megawatts peak photovoltaic capacity, complemented by a 4,500 megawatt-hours battery energy storage system capacity.

The President welcomed the project, which he said will help position the Philippines as a leader in renewable energy. He says it will also address the country's surging demand for electricity, and serve the pressing need to shift to renewable and sustainable sources of energy.

"By leveraging our abundant solar resources, the Terra Solar Project will help stabilize our power supply, reduce energy costs, and contribute significantly to our target of 35 percent renewable energy share in the power generation mix by 2030," Marcos Jr said in his speech during the groundbreaking ceremony in Penaranda, Nueva Ecija.

Aside from helping the local communities, Marcos says the project is also expected to generate over 10,000 job opportunities for Filipinos.

"Over the next decade, it is poised to generate nearly P23 billion in financial benefits," he said. "We are working towards a steady reliable power supply that will meet the demands of today and continuously fuel our ambitions for tomorrow."

The Philippine leader meanwhile called on government agencies and private sector entities to fully support the project by ensuring its timely completion.

"Let us do the same for all renewable energy projects," he said.