The Philippines is accelerating the development of strategic renewable energy projects in Northern Luzon following the groundbreaking and time capsule laying ceremonies for two Green Lane-certified solar ventures of Vena Energy in Ilocos Norte.
The projects include the 74.989-megawatt Astra Solar Power Project in Currimao on May 5, 2026, and the 416.025-megawatt-peak Opus Solar Project in Paoay on May 6, 2026.
Through the Board of Investments’ (BOI) One-Stop Action Center for Strategic Investments (OSACSI), the government has worked closely with project proponents, national agencies, local government units, and regulatory bodies to fast-track permits, align inter-agency requirements, and address processing bottlenecks under Executive Order No. 18, which established the Green Lane for Strategic Investments.
Located in Barangay Paguludan-Salindeg, Currimao, Ilocos Norte, the Astra Solar Power Project spans around 52 hectares and adds to the province’s growing renewable energy portfolio. The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by Cecilia Araneta Marcos, Matthew Joseph Marcos Manotoc, and Edward Quilala, together with Vena Group executives led by Chief Operating Officer Juan Mas Valor, Vena Energy Philippines Country Head Samrinder Nehria, and Head of Project Development Mia Jarumayan.
Building on this momentum, Opus Solar Energy Corp. also broke ground on the Opus Solar Project in Paoay, Ilocos Norte. The project will cover approximately 190 hectares across Barangays Bacsil and Mumulaan and is poised to become one of the country’s largest utility-scale solar facilities.
Once operational, the Astra Solar Power Project is expected to generate around 142 gigawatt-hours of clean energy annually—enough to power about 120,500 households—while avoiding roughly 95,400 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions each year, equivalent to planting over 1.5 million trees.
Meanwhile, the Opus Solar Project is projected to supply clean energy equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of around 445,000 households and prevent an estimated 444,400 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions annually, further supporting the country’s clean energy transition and sustainability goals.
As of April 30, 2026, Vena Energy Group has secured 15 Green Lane-certified projects with a combined investment value exceeding PHP240 billion, contributing to the expansion of the Philippines’ renewable energy capacity and infrastructure agenda.
“These projects reflect the BOI’s continued efforts to translate approved investments into operational projects by accelerating coordination, improving regulatory responsiveness, and supporting investors from pre-development to implementation,” said Bobby G. Fondevilla.
The BOI said it remains committed to ensuring that strategic investments deliver tangible outcomes that strengthen energy resilience, advance sustainability goals, and drive regional economic growth.