Solar Philippines is set introduce the first battery equipped solar farm in the Philippines when it completes the first 50 megawatts (MW) of its solar project in Tarlac this year.

“Batteries will be the game-changer of 2017. We aim to complete our first such project by mid-year to show that the age of 24/7 solar is already here, and hopefully urge others to pause before investing in expensive fossil fuels,” Solar Philippines president Leandro Leviste said.

The first phase of the Tarlac solar farm will be completed halfway through 2017. The remaining 150 MW is slated for completion in 2018.

“Even at today’s prices, solar-plus-storage is already cheaper than expensive diesel and natural gas. We aim to complete our first such project by mid-year, to show that the age of 24/7 solar is already here, and hopefully urge others to pause before investing in expensive fossil fuels,” Levsite added.

Solar Philippines is in talks with Tesla for a pilot solar farm with battery storage.

“These are exciting times in the power industry. Vertical integration is enabling us to make solar-plus-storage cost-competitive years ahead of schedule, accelerate the advent of sustainable energy, and make the Philippines a leader in solar energy worldwide,” Leviste said.