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Ana Crescini - Philstar.com
August 8, 2025 | 7:10am
The Philippines’ first megawatt-scale floating solar facility in Cebu as seen in a August 2025 handout image.
Carmen Copper / Business Wire / Handout
MANILA, Philippines — A floating solar power plant on a reservoir in Cebu has begun supplying energy to a copper mine, marking the country’s first megawatt-scale deployment of the emerging technology as firms look for cleaner, land-efficient power sources.
United States-based engineering and construction firm Black & Veatch said it completed a 4.99-megawatt floating solar photovoltaic facility for Carmen Copper Corp. on the Malubog Reservoir in Toledo City, Cebu.
The plant, which covers three hectares and includes 8,540 panels, is expected to meet 10% of the mine’s current power demand.
The project, which can scale up to 50 megawatts, is part of Carmen Copper’s strategy to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels and aligns with the Philippine Department of Energy’s target of sourcing 35% of power from renewable energy by 2030.
Why floating solar?
Unlike land-based solar farms, floating solar plants—or floatovoltaics—use pontoons to suspend solar panels over bodies of water such as reservoirs, dams or lakes.
This helps conserve land, provides natural cooling that improves panel efficiency, and can reduce water evaporation, offering both energy and environmental benefits.
The technology is gaining traction in land-scarce or industrial regions where large-scale solar farms are harder to build.
“This project exemplifies how engineering excellence and environmental stewardship can converge to deliver transformative infrastructure,” said Jerin Raj, Asia-Pacific managing director at Black & Veatch.
Behind the project. The Kansas-headquartered company served as the engineering, procurement and construction contractor on the project, completing the work in 15 months.
The company has operated in the Philippines for more than 50 years and is known for large-scale energy and infrastructure work in the Asia-Pacific region.
Carmen Copper is a wholly owned subsidiary of Atlas Consolidated Mining and Development Corp., one of the country’s largest copper producers.
The company said the project supports its goal of using more sustainable energy in operations while complying with environmental standards.
“This initiative reflects Carmen Copper’s commitment to responsible mining and environmental stewardship,” said lawyer Axel Tumulak, head of legal and compliance at Carmen Copper.
The facility uses panels fixed at a constant tilt to maximize solar exposure during peak hours, allowing the mine to reduce its daytime fossil fuel usage.
What's next? Future expansions of the floating array could allow Carmen Copper to fully power its operations with renewable energy.
The Philippines, like many countries in Southeast Asia, is expanding its use of renewables while grappling with energy security concerns and land use constraints.
Floating solar projects, though relatively new in the region, are expected to grow in number as industries seek cleaner power without competing for agricultural or urban land.
