QUEZON CITY — Leading pure renewable energy developer and operator Citicore Renewable Energy Corporation (CREC) recently celebrated its 11 years of existence with an extraordinary milestone: reaching 1 gigawatt (GW) in installed renewable energy capacity.

On September 25, partners, regulators, financial supporters, and team members gathered at The Blue Leaf Cosmopolitan in Libis, Quezon City for an intimate thanksgiving and appreciation night titled “Citicore at 11: A Decade and One.”

Citicore Renewables set out 11 years ago with a simple yet ambitious goal: to harness natural resources and help power a First-World Philippines through pure, sustainable energy.

It began not with grand fanfare, but with ground-level determination—working alongside local communities, navigating complex energy landscapes, and proving solar power could genuinely transform lives.

CREC currently operates a total of 16 solar power facilities with total aggregate capacity of 791 MWdc strategically located across the country.

The company has also ventured into the development of run-of-river (ROR) hydro in Ilaguen, Isabela, and has secured wind energy service contracts for at least seven off-shore wind projects.

CREC also has over 5 Gigawatts of project pipelines in varying stages of development.

Reflecting on the company’s evolution, Chairman Edgar B. Saavedra said Citicore began with a vision to reach 5 GW within five years.

“To achieve that vision and to deliver, we need the support of our partners and regulators. We would not be here without all of you. Hopefully, we can support the transition to pure renewable energy,” Saavedra said.

This sentiment resonated with Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) Chairperson Francis Saturnino Juan, who highlighted Citicore’s steady, principled approach to meeting clean energy demands while maintaining high standards of governance.

“Renewable energy has grown. More consumers can now choose their own suppliers; new technology’s been shaping how we generate and use power. And Citicore is part of that story,” Juan said.

“The market is moving, it is growing. This shift is not just adding renewable capacity where Citicore is very much active. It is about choice, competition, investment, and keeping power reliable and affordable. Our job is to set the rules that let innovation move forward while keeping the consumers at the center, and we value Citicore’s part in this,” he added.

Beyond 21 completed solar site, the heart of Citicore’s story lies in the communities and ecosystems it serves—a journey captured in the documentary “11 Voices” through stories of local farmers, partners, and leaders.

Over the past decade, Citicore has laid deep roots by combining clean energy with targeted social and environmental programs. These include AgroSolar farming where crops are cultivated along the aisles of solar panels, technical skills training, local employment, reforestation, coastal cleanups, and the EcoLoop program for repurposing retired panels.

Ultimately, Citicore ensures clean power generation drives lasting, multi-generational growth for residents and host environments alike.

Citicore recognized that this progress was also made possible by 14 financial institutions whose backing enabled nationwide scaling: BDO Unibank, Inc., BDO Capital & Investment Corporation, Bank of the Philippine Islands, BPI Capital Corporation, Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation, RCBC Capital Corporation, Philippine National Bank, PNB Capital and Investment Corporation, Land Bank of the Philippines, Development Bank of the Philippines, Security Bank Corporation, Security Bank Capital, Bank of China, and HSBC.

As the company enters its eleventh year in powering the country with pure renewable energy, the focus shifts to expanding solar, battery energy storage systems (BESS), and integrated renewable solutions across more regions, while remaining steadfast as a community partner.

President and CEO Oliver Y. Tan reaffirmed the vision ahead: “All projects under the Green Energy Auction-2 (GEA) program that we won are complete, with only energization and commissioning remaining. This proves that our regulators’ initiatives truly work,” said Tan.

“As we prepare for GEA-4, we will continue to support the DOE and ERC in achieving the country’s energy transition goals. We will put our money and effort where our mouth is and continue investing to make this transition a reality,” Tan added. ▲