ILAGAN, Isabela: A private solar energy provider would develop a 440-megawatt solar photovoltaic project worth P18 billion in this city following the signing of a solar energy operating contract with the Department of Energy (DoE).

The DoE and the San Ignacio Energy Resources Development Corp., a subsidiary of the Nextnorth Energy group, inked the agreement for the 440 MWp/336 MWac solar PV project.

The French-owned Total Eren S.A. and the Filipino-owned San Ignacio Energy firm earlier agreed to invest in the venture.

Total Eren is a renewable independent power producer (IPP) with over 3.7 GW of wind and solar PV projects under construction or in operation globally.

Company records said Total Eren has already invested in a 60 MWp operating solar PV project in Tarlac province.

Total Eren, which counts French multi-energy company TotalEnergies as one of its strategic shareholders, brings extensive experience in the development, financing, construction and operation of renewable energy power plants globally, together with a strong commitment to the Philippine market.

The project touted as the largest in the country will be built on around 400 hectares of available land along the Northern Luzon high voltage transmission network of the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines.

The project is scheduled to start construction in 2024 and feed electricity into the grid in 2025.

During its construction period, the energy company will provide employment to roughly 4,500 workers. With an expected electricity generation of around 700 GWh per year, San Ignacio can supply 1 million Philippine households with clean, renewable energy, the company added.