ib vogt has recently broken ground on the 99 megawatt-peak (MWp) Luca Solar Power Plant in Ajuy, Iloilo, Philippines, marking a new chapter in the company’s clean energy journey in the country.

Once operational, Luca Solar Power Plant is expected to generate approximately 158 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of clean energy annually – enough to power roughly 79,000 homes – while avoiding an estimated 109,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions every year. The project marks another significant milestone in ib vogt APAC’s goal of reaching approximately 500 MW of capacity in construction and operation in the Philippines by the end of 2026.

For David Ludwig, Chief Executive Officer of ib vogt APAC, the ceremony marks a turning point in the company’s momentum in the country. “Earlier this year our first solar and storage plant in the Philippines began delivering power,” he said. “Breaking ground for our Luca plant today doubles the capacity we have built and under construction in the country. Our third and largest yet project entering construction before year end will more than double it again. Reaching this point was only possible with the support from our lenders and the communities and local stakeholders, and we thank them for the work they put in alongside us. We will keep building into a Philippine power market that needs the supply. The same ramp-up is under way across our core Southeast Asian markets, a region entering a decade in which reliable, low-cost power decides how fast these economies grow.”

The plant is also expected to be a steady source of local employment. Jose Luis Echávarri, Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer of ib vogt APAC, pointed to the clean power and more predictable energy costs the project will deliver over its projected 20-year life, alongside the jobs it will bring: “It means significant hundreds of jobs, local employment during the construction, and smaller numbers of skilled jobs in this community for the life of the plant.”

That impact resonates beyond ib vogt. Marissa P. Cerezo, Director IV of the Department of Energy’s Renewable Energy Management Bureau, framed the project against the country’s rising power needs: “Our energy demand will continue to grow as our economy expands, so we need an energy system that is not just sufficient, but also reliable, resilient, diversified, and increasingly sustainable.”

Ajuy Mayor Loida Espinosa struck a similar note, describing how the municipality is turning its abundant sunlight into opportunity: “Beyond electricity, this project will generate employment, economic activity, investments, and other benefits that contribute to the development of Barangay Luca and the Municipality of Ajuy.”

British Ambassador Sarah Hulton OBE said: “The Government of the United Kingdom is proud to support the 99 MW Luca Solar Project in Ajuy, Iloilo, through British International Investment, the UK’s development finance institution. By helping to unlock additional private-sector investment, this project will deliver clean electricity for 79,000 households, strengthen energy security in the Visayas and support the Philippines’ transition to a lower-carbon future.”

None of this would have been possible without the many partners who helped achieve this milestone. ib vogt thanks RCBC and RCBC Capital for arranging and financing the transaction, and Pentagreen Capital and British International Investment (BII) for the confidence that shaped this capital structure. Local government support has been just as vital: the Provincial Government of Iloilo and the Municipalities of Ajuy and Barotac Viejo have backed the project at every stage, and the host communities opened their land to it with real generosity.

Marat Zapparov, Chief Executive Officer of Pentagreen Capital, said: “Pentagreen Capital congratulates the ib vogt Asia team on the groundbreaking of the 99 MW Luca Solar Project in Ajuy, Iloilo, building on the recently commissioned 99 MW Tantangan Solar Project in Mindanao. This milestone demonstrates ib vogt Asia’s exceptional ability to bring impactful energy projects in the region from concept to reality, using capital provided by Pentagreen Green Investments Partnership under Singapore’s FAST-P programme, together with our partner British International Investment. Together, we are proud to support the Philippines’ energy security objectives while accelerating the country’s transition towards a more sustainable, resilient and low-carbon energy future.”

Rohit Anand, Managing Director, Head of Asia Climate Direct Investments, BII, said: “Driving a successful energy transition will require significantly greater flows of private investment into emerging markets. Through partnerships with developers, lenders and investors, BII aims to play a catalytic role in mobilising capital towards high-impact climate infrastructure. The Luca Solar Power Plant is an example of how blended expertise and long-term capital can help bring strategically important renewable energy projects from concept to reality.”