TANAUAN CITY, Philippines – First Gen Group breaks ground on Wednesday, March 11, in Brgy. Bilog-bilog, Tanauan City, Batangas, to mark the start of construction of its first utility-scale solar project, Inara—a 54‑MW project designed to expand to 100-MW and to integrate a battery energy storage system for grid stability. Incorporating an agri-photovoltaics (agri‑PV) approach, Inara will be engineered to co‑exist with agriculture, with completion targeted for summer 2027. The project sits at the heart of Batangas’ drive to bolster industrial growth and serves as a scalable model for sustainable energy infrastructure in the Philippines.
Francis Giles B. Puno, President and COO of First Philippine Holdings and First Gen, asserted that “Solar brings accessibility, scalability, and abundance—allowing clean energy to be deployed more rapidly and across many locations… Through this project, we aim to expand renewable energy in a way that continues to create opportunities for both communities and industries.” He highlighted the company’s long‑standing Batangas partnership and the broader mission to integrate First Gen’s platforms toward a resilient energy future. He emphasized that farmers can continue cultivating crops as energy production does not have to displace food production.
The project is designed to connect with Batangas Electric Cooperative II (BATELEC II) and to supply electricity to nearby industrial zones, including the First Philippine Industrial Park (FPIP), framing the company’s strategy to reinforce local energy reliability for industry and households alike.
Governor Vilma Santos-Recto agreed that the project is a strategic win for Batangas, affirming its contribution to the economy and energy security of the province. In her remarks, she noted the collaboration with First Gen and stressed the importance of job creation and sustainable growth for the province. “This 54‑MW Inara Solar Power Project is economically significant, because it will expand our country’s energy supply—ensuring that the rising energy demands of our growing industries and households, particularly here in CALABARZON, are met sustainably and securely,” the governor stated in her keynote address.
Tanauan City Mayor Sonny P. Collantes also expressed three core benefits of Inara for the city: employment generation during construction and operation, infrastructure improvements to attract investment, and a reduction in dependence on traditional energy sources through renewable solutions. In his remarks, he called Tanauan a “partner in the province’s renewable energy strategy” and urged continued collaboration among local government, private sector, and communities to ensure a sustainable future.
First Gen sets a broader objective to scale Inara a renewable capacity to 13,000-MW or by roughly another 9,000-MW by 2030, aligning with national goals to lift renewable share in the energy mix to 35% by 2030 and 50% by 2040.| Sheenalei Briana Rayos
