ib vogt has broken ground on the 99-megawatt-peak (MWp) Luca Solar Power Plant in Ajuy, Iloilo, Philippines, marking the company’s latest solar project to enter construction in the country.
Once operational, the project is expected to generate approximately 158 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of clean electricity annually, enough to supply around 79,000 homes. The plant is also expected to avoid approximately 109,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions each year.
The Luca Solar Power Plant is part of ib vogt APAC’s expansion in the Philippine renewable energy market. The company aims to reach approximately 500 MW of capacity in construction and operation in the Philippines by the end of 2026.
ib vogt Expands Philippine Solar Portfolio
David Ludwig, Chief Executive Officer of ib vogt APAC, said the Luca project represents another step in the company’s expansion in the country.
Earlier this year, ib vogt’s first solar-and-storage project in the Philippines began delivering power. The company said the Luca project will further increase its operating and construction capacity, while another larger project is expected to enter construction before the end of the year.
ib vogt said the project has been supported by lenders, local communities and other stakeholders involved in its development.
Jose Luis Echávarri, Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer of ib vogt APAC, said the project is expected to provide clean electricity and more predictable energy costs over its projected 20-year operating life. Construction is also expected to create hundreds of local jobs, followed by skilled employment opportunities during the plant’s operational phase.
Project Supports Philippines’ Growing Power Demand
The Philippine Department of Energy highlighted the project’s potential contribution to the country’s growing electricity requirements.
Marissa P. Cerezo, Director IV of the Department of Energy’s Renewable Energy Management Bureau, said rising energy demand linked to economic growth requires an electricity system that is reliable, resilient, diversified and increasingly sustainable.
The project is being developed in Ajuy, where local authorities expect the solar plant to contribute to employment, investment and economic activity in the municipality and surrounding communities.
Ajuy Mayor Loida Espinosa said the project would create opportunities beyond electricity generation, including employment, investments and other economic benefits for Barangay Luca and the Municipality of Ajuy.
UK Supports Luca Solar Project
The UK Government is also supporting the project through British International Investment (BII), the UK’s development finance institution.
British Ambassador Sarah Hulton OBE said the UK’s support for the 99 MW Luca Solar Project is intended to help mobilize additional private-sector investment while expanding clean electricity generation and supporting energy security in the Visayas.
The project is expected to supply electricity equivalent to the consumption of approximately 79,000 households and contribute to the Philippines’ transition toward lower-carbon power generation.
Financing and Local Government Support
ib vogt said RCBC and RCBC Capital arranged and financed the transaction, while Pentagreen Capital and British International Investment participated in the project’s capital structure.
The company also acknowledged the support of the provincial government of Iloilo and the municipalities of Ajuy and Barotac Viejo during the project’s development.
The Luca Solar Power Plant adds to ib vogt’s growing renewable energy portfolio in the Philippines as the company continues to expand its solar and energy infrastructure across the country.
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