Carmen Copper Corporation has officially inaugurated the Philippines’ first operational megawatt-scale floating solar power plant, marking a significant milestone in the country’s clean energy transition. Situated on the Malubog Reservoir within the company’s mining site in Toledo City, Cebu, the project represents a pioneering effort to integrate renewable energy into industrial operations.
Occupying approximately three hectares, the floating solar facility consists of 8,540 photovoltaic panels with a peak generation capacity of 4.99 megawatts (MW). This capacity is expected to supply up to 10% of Carmen Copper’s electricity needs on-site. Designed and developed by U.S.-based engineering firm Black & Veatch, the system is modular and scalable, with the potential to expand up to 50 MW — a capacity sufficient to power the company’s entire mining operation with renewable energy.
The project also includes a prefabricated substation and a 6-kilometer overhead distribution line connecting the solar array to Carmen Copper’s 34.5-kilovolt substation. Construction was completed in just 15 months, with over 250,000 man-hours recorded and zero lost-time incidents, demonstrating strong execution and a high standard of safety.
“This initiative reflects Carmen Copper’s commitment to responsible mining and environmental stewardship, while aligning with the Department of Energy’s target to have renewable energy account for at least half of the country’s total power capacity by 2040,” said Atty. Axel G. Tumulak, Head of Legal, Compliance, and Corporate Governance at Carmen Copper.
A wholly owned subsidiary of Atlas Consolidated Mining and Development Corporation, Carmen Copper highlighted that the floating solar plant is a key component of its long-term sustainability roadmap, aimed at significantly reducing the carbon footprint of its mining activities.
The project sets a precedent not only for the mining sector but also for other industrial players seeking innovative solutions to decarbonize operations through renewable technologies like floating solar — particularly in land-constrained or environmentally sensitive areas.
