Philippines' First Floating Solar Farm Sets A National Blueprint For Clean Energy - CleanTechnica

The Philippines has inaugurated its first floating solar farm, a 4.99 MW photovoltaic installation on the Malubog Reservoir in Toledo City, Cebu. This pioneering project is a collaboration between Carmen Copper Corp., a subsidiary of Atlas Consolidated Mining, and global engineering firm Black & Veatch, which served as the EPC contractor. Completed within 15 months on schedule and budget, the plant features 8,540 solar panels, a prefabricated substation, and a six-kilometer distribution line connecting to Carmen Copper’s grid. The facility currently supplies about 10% of the mine’s power needs, significantly reducing fossil fuel dependence and demonstrating responsible mining aligned with the Philippines Department of Energy’s renewable energy goals. Floating solar technology offers distinct advantages, including enhanced panel efficiency due to water cooling, preservation of valuable land resources, and reduced water evaporation from the reservoir—an important environmental benefit amid regional water concerns. The Malubog Reservoir, originally created in the 1970s for mining operations and