A consortium is set to commence the development of a 150-megawatt solar power plant in Daanbantayan, Cebu to address the increasing energy demand of the province and help solve the widespread power outages in neighboring Panay Island.

Governor Gwendolyn Garcia said in a statement on Saturday that the solar power plant, to be situated in Barangay Talisay and at no cost to the local government except for the 185-hectare lot, will be developed, operated and maintained by Spain-based Acciona Energia Global and local firm Freya Renewables Inc. through a 25-year concession.

Garcia met with the executives of the consortium, Daanbantayan Mayor Shun Shimura and officials of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) at the capitol on Friday to discuss the collaboration.

They already signed a memorandum of agreement on March 16.

During the meeting, NGCP vice presidents Reynaldo Abadilla and Cesar Sanchez expressed their commitment to facilitate the transmission of the power produced by the consortium to the power distributors in Cebu and neighboring provinces, according to a news release.

The NGCP also provided the consortium with a complimentary System Impact Study to assist the project with the assessment of the power grid’s capacity to integrate a new generator, identifying some enhancements such as additional transmission lines, transformers, or substations.

The study will be forwarded to the Department of Energy for its endorsement.

The governor has already met with the 56 owners of the lot in Barangay Talisay where the solar panels will be constructed. (PNA)