Iloilo Solar Project Secures ₱6.215 Billion Financing for Renewable Energy Development

Major Financing Supports Solar Development in Iloilo

Renewable energy development in the Visayas is gaining another significant investment as financing moves forward for a utility-scale Iloilo solar project in Barotac Viejo.

Singapore-based Levanta Renewables is developing the 166 MWp solar facility together with an 80 MWh battery energy storage system. A ₱6.215 billion co-financing facility is supporting the project, with Philippine National Bank participating and PNB Capital and Investment Corporation serving as one of the project arrangers.

The financing adds another important piece to the project’s development timeline. Levanta announced financial close and issued the Notice to Proceed in June 2026, moving the Barotac Viejo development into its execution phase. The project is targeting commercial operations in 2027.

Combining Solar Generation With Energy Storage

One of the project’s notable characteristics is the integration of utility-scale solar generation with battery energy storage.

The development consists of a 166 MWp ground-mounted photovoltaic facility paired with an 80 MWh Battery Energy Storage System or BESS. Battery storage can help manage the variable nature of solar generation by storing electricity and making energy available when it is needed later.

This combination reflects the growing importance of considering renewable generation and grid reliability together. As more solar capacity is developed across the Philippines, storage technologies can become an increasingly important component of projects designed to support a more flexible power system.

Iloilo Builds a Broader Renewable Energy Landscape

The Barotac Viejo development is arriving as Iloilo builds a wider renewable energy footprint.

In July 2025, construction began on the 62 MWp Ajuy 1 Solar Power Project in Barangay Tipacla, Ajuy. The ₱2.37 billion development covers approximately 47.86 hectares and was described by the Department of Energy as Iloilo’s first major ground-mounted solar facility. It is designed to connect to the Panay Island grid through the Sara-Panit 69 kV transmission line.

Renewable energy activity is also taking place at a smaller scale. The Iloilo Provincial Government has provided funding for hybrid solar systems in barangays and pursued solar-powered infrastructure projects in communities across the province. These initiatives complement Iloilo’s policy of promoting renewable energy development and investment.

Together, these developments show solar deployment taking shape at different scales, from community installations to major privately financed power infrastructure.

Expanding Renewable Energy Capacity in the Visayas

The location of the Iloilo solar project also demonstrates how major renewable energy investments are expanding beyond Luzon.

Once operational, the Barotac Viejo facility is expected to contribute additional renewable generation capacity to the Visayas grid. The project was also awarded a power purchase agreement under the Department of Energy’s Green Energy Auction Program Round 4, connecting the development to the country’s broader renewable energy procurement program.

For provinces such as Iloilo, utility-scale renewable projects can represent more than additional generating capacity. They can bring infrastructure investment into regional communities while creating opportunities connected to construction, operations, local services, and the longer-term development of the energy sector.

Financing Helps Move Projects From Pipeline to Construction

Large renewable energy projects require more than suitable land and strong solar resources. They also depend on financing, grid connections, regulatory approvals, engineering, construction, and long-term arrangements for the electricity they generate.

The Barotac Viejo project illustrates how these components gradually move a renewable development from planning toward operation.

Levanta awarded the project’s engineering, procurement, and construction contract to China Energy Engineering Group in April 2026. Financial close and the Notice to Proceed followed in June, advancing the project into execution.

The ₱6.215 billion financing also reflects continued involvement by Philippine financial institutions in renewable energy infrastructure. Alongside PNB, BPI has confirmed its participation in financing the Barotac Viejo solar and storage development.

Solar Investment Continues Across the Philippines

The Iloilo solar project represents more than an individual power facility. Alongside other solar developments and local renewable energy initiatives emerging across Iloilo, the project demonstrates how the province is building renewable energy capacity at multiple scales.

Its combination of utility-scale generation, battery storage, major project financing, and participation in the Green Energy Auction Program also reflects the increasingly complex infrastructure and coordination required to expand renewable energy across the Philippines.

For developers and investors, projects moving from financing into execution demonstrate the scale of capital, land, infrastructure, engineering, and coordination involved in expanding the country’s renewable energy capacity. As additional projects progress from planning into construction and operation, provinces such as Iloilo can play an increasingly important role in the country’s evolving energy landscape.

Solar Assets PH follows renewable energy developments, solar investment opportunities, and emerging energy infrastructure across the Philippines as the country’s transition toward cleaner power continues.