Jacobs has been chosen by Terra Solar Philippines, a subsidiary of SP New Energy (SPNEC), to provide engineering, technical, and construction services for the $3bn Terra Solar project in the Philippines.
The project comprises a 3.5GW solar photovoltaic (PV) plant and a 4.5GWh battery energy storage system (BESS). It is set to become one of the largest solar farms globally and is expected to meet 12% of the Philippines’ energy demand upon completion.
To be located approximately 150km north of Manila, the 3,000ha site will feature over five million solar panels.
Jacobs plans to utilise advanced digital tools, including drone technology, to manage field tasks, optimise site inspections, and monitor construction progress.
The engineering company will also supervise equipment delivery logistics and supply chain to speed up the manufacturing, inspection, shipping, and installation of the solar panels at Terra Solar project.
Jacobs vice president Fiachra Ó Cléirigh said: “The Terra Solar project will significantly reduce the country’s reliance on coal, decrease energy-related emissions and bolster progress toward a more sustainable, secure and resilient energy system.
“Our work will help scale innovation to make sustainable energy a reality faster and for more people, across the country.”
The Terra Solar project’s first phase is expected to commence by Q1 2026. It is anticipated to generate over five billion kilowatt hours (kWh) annually, significantly surpassing the capacity of existing solar farms in the Philippines.
Once operational, the Terra Solar project is projected to surpass the size and capacity of China’s Golmud solar park and India’s Bhadla Solar Park, which offer 2.2GW of capacity.
Currently, the Terra Solar project is fully owned by SPNEC. MGEN Renewable Energy, which is the renewable energy arm of Meralco PowerGen, holds a controlling stake in SPNEC.
MGEN Renewable Energy president Dennis Jordan said: “Not only will Terra Solar provide clean energy for the Philippines, but it will also change the whole dynamics of the energy industry.
“With the combination of solar and battery technologies, we see that it will be able to compete with conventional energy sources, and provide not just a low emission energy source, but an economical one as well.”
In September, Actis agreed to acquire a stake of 40% in the Terra Solar project from Manila Electric (Meralco) and SPNEC in a deal worth about $600m.
