GENERAL SANTOS CITY(August 4) — Mindanao is adding another major renewable energy facility to its power mix as the first phase of the Tantangan Solar Power Project begins energization, but its bigger test will be whether new capacity can translate into more reliable and affordable electricity for consumers.
The 74.5-megawatt-peak (MWp) initial phase in Barangay Magon is part of a utility-scale solar facility expected to reach 99 MWp upon completion in October 2026.
The project is projected to generate more than 150,000 megawatt-hours of clean electricity annually, enough to supply the equivalent of more than 68,000 households, according to project proponents.
For Mindanao, where power supply reliability has long been a concern, the project adds another source to a grid that has historically relied heavily on hydropower and fossil-fuel generation.
The facility also includes a 4-megawatt battery energy storage system capable of storing up to 16 megawatt-hours. The system is designed to hold excess solar power and release it during periods of peak demand, helping address one of solar energy’s biggest limitations—its dependence on daylight.
The project is expected to prevent around 114,000 metric tons of carbon emissions annually, reinforcing the government’s push to expand renewable energy while reducing dependence on more carbon-intensive sources.
Energy Secretary Sharon S. Garin, who led the energization ceremony, said the facility would strengthen the reliability and diversity of Mindanao’s power supply.
“By bringing utility-scale solar generation to Mindanao, this plant strengthens the reliability and diversity of the island’s power supply,” Garin said.
But the addition of generation capacity also raises a more immediate question for households and businesses: Will new renewable projects eventually help bring down electricity costs, or will consumers continue to shoulder high power rates despite a growing clean-energy pipeline?
The Tantangan project was developed by Apolaki Seven Inc., a subsidiary of Germany-based ib vogt GmbH. The 128-hectare facility was awarded a Solar Energy Operating Contract in September 2023 under the government’s Green Energy Auction Program, which seeks to attract private investment into large-scale renewable energy projects.
The project is registered with the Board of Investments under Republic Act No. 9513, or the Renewable Energy Act of 2008, making it eligible for fiscal and non-fiscal incentives, including a seven-year income tax holiday.
BOI Executive Director Bobby Fondevilla said such incentives are intended to encourage further renewable energy investments, which could generate jobs and stimulate economic activity.
Garin said the project’s energization demonstrates that government renewable energy policies are producing results.
“Today, this project stands as proof that our program works,” she said.
Yet for Mindanao communities, the ultimate measure of success will extend beyond megawatts and investment figures.
The real payoff will be seen when new renewable capacity helps make electricity more dependable, less vulnerable to supply disruptions and, crucially, more affordable for the households and industries that need it.
As Mindanao’s clean-energy portfolio expands, the challenge is no longer simply building more power plants. It is making sure the transition delivers tangible benefits to consumers.
