Philippine pioneer SunAsia Energy and Vietnam’s VinEnergo have launched a $406-million strategic partnership to build 422 MWp of clean power across Pampanga and Negros Occidental, operating as the nation's first large-scale, pile-mounted floating solar developments scheduled between 2027 and 2028.
A Pioneering Partnership for Clean Energy and Food Security
The partnership, formally announced in Manila on June 17, marks a significant milestone in renewable energy cooperation between the Philippines and Vietnam . The three projects, which have been awarded contracts under the Green Energy Auction – 4 (GEA-4), will utilize an innovative "Solar on Stilts" technology where solar panels are elevated on concrete pile structures above water areas . This approach allows aquaculture and fishpond operations to continue beneath and around the installations, demonstrating how renewable energy generation can coexist with food production and water resource management . SunAsia Energy CEO and President Tetchi Capellan emphasized that the partnership presents "a compelling case for integrated solar-aquaculture farming from both a farm productivity and energy cost perspective" . The projects will involve the installation of nearly 700,000 solar panels on stilts and approximately 62 kilometers of new transmission lines across both provinces.
Economic and Environmental Impact
The Solar-on-Water portfolio represents an estimated investment of $406 million, approximately PHP 24.6 billion . Once operational between 2027 and 2028, the facilities are projected to generate enough clean electricity to power more than 278,000 homes annually while avoiding approximately 460,888 tons of carbon emissions each year—equivalent to the carbon sequestration of around 21 million trees . Beyond power generation, the projects are expected to create employment opportunities, stimulate local economic activity, and support sustainable development in host communities . Energy Secretary Sharon Garin noted that the partnership reflects confidence in the Philippine energy sector and supports efforts to ensure reliable and affordable electricity for Filipinos, particularly in Luzon and the Visayas where growing power demand continues to rise.
