CITICORE Renewable Energy Corp. (CREC), a renewable energy company listed on the Philippine Stock Exchange, is planning three additional agrosolar farms in Binalonan, Pangasinan; Tarlac City, Tarlac; and Silay, Negros Occidental, the company said.

The three planned sites would complement CREC's existing agrosolar operations, which consist of two farms in Tuy, Batangas, and another in Arayat, Pampanga. The expansion plan comes as the government works to raise the share of renewables in the country's power generation mix to 35% by 2030 and 50% by 2040 under the National Renewable Energy Program.

Citicore Foundation Head Czarina Brodit-Valeros said the planned Binalonan agrosolar farm would be developed in partnership with the municipal government, while the Tarlac City site would be pursued together with the Department of Agriculture (DA).

"We're still trying to work with DA on which of their priority crops will they want us to plant in the Tarlac site," Ms. Valeros told reporters during a site visit to CREC's facilities in Tuy.

Textile hub plans in Binalonan

CREC is also working with the Binalonan local government, the DA, and the Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority (PhilFIDA) on crops that could be used for textiles, such as pineapple and abaca, as part of efforts to develop a textile hub in the municipality. The Philippines is the world's largest producer of abaca, a fiber also known as Manila hemp, while pineapple leaf fiber is used in traditional Philippine textiles such as piña cloth.

"When we are talking with them, they want us to plant crops that turn into textile, like pineapple, abaca. That's what we're working out with Binalonan, and DA also with PhilFIDA, we're working it out so we can be their inputs, we'll be their raw materials. They would be the ones who will develop them into an industry," Ms. Valeros said.

Silay pilot eyed

The Silay local government has expressed interest in establishing an agrosolar farm and has passed an ordinance indicating that interest, she said, adding that a councilor from the area visited CREC's Tuy facilities.

Ms. Valeros said she hopes CREC can begin pilot operations in Silay this year, although starting operations during the wet season could be difficult. The Philippine rainy season, as tracked by the state weather bureau, typically runs from June to November.

Scaling the model across all plants

CREC is also working to expand the agrosolar model across its existing plants, but faces constraints, including the capital needed for equipment.

"There are certain limitations, like capital outlaying of tractors. So we're still working on that, on how we can scale up in all plants," she said.

"The mission is all plants would have agrosolar," she added.

CREC uses agrivoltaic technology at its agrosolar farms, allowing crops to be grown between rows of solar panels. The dual land-use approach, which pairs power generation with farming on the same ground, is also being adopted in other countries as a way to ease competition between solar projects and food production for agricultural land. Ms. Valeros said crops under the initiative benefit from the shade provided by the solar panels, improved soil moisture, and higher yields, while farmers are provided with livelihood opportunities. — Marron Joshua F. Mendoza