CREC: 13 projects awarded a certificate of national importance

Citicore Renewable Energy Corporation’s (CREC) 800 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy (RE) initiatives have been designated as “energy projects of national significance” by the Department of Energy (DOE).

“The recognition of our 13 projects underlines the importance the government attaches to the rapid implementation of renewable energy projects, which are typically hampered by difficulties in obtaining permits and approvals,” said Oliver Tan, President and CEO of CREC.

The investments include 430 megawatts of alternating current (MWac) of ground-mounted photovoltaic projects and 362 MWac of onshore wind farms, strategically located in key provinces such as Pangasinan, Bataan, Pampanga, Batangas, Quezon, Camarines Sur, Iloilo and Negros Occidental.

Additionally, CREC’s Green Energy Auction Program (GEAP) 2 projects are aligned with the company’s goal of building five gigawatts (GW) of clean energy over five years.

“We thank the DOE for recognizing the critical importance of renewable energy sources to the nation’s energy security, and we call on other government agencies to support our country’s renewable energy goals,” Tan added.

In July 2023, DOE recognized 13 projects under the GEAP-2 initiative by issuing the Certificate of Nationally Significant Energy Projects (CEPNS)

The CEPNS system, introduced by Executive Order No. 30 in 2017, enables faster approval of energy projects of key importance for the country’s development.

It guarantees that applications will be processed within 30 days and triggers automatic approval if no decision is made within five business days after this period.