A 10-megawatt solar power plant in three sites in Lanao del Sur can significantly reduce electricity costs while improving energy security and access in the province

04 Aug 2026

In Lanao del Sur, many families continue to face limited access to affordable and reliable electricity. The local cooperative, LASURECO, relies primarily on a single hydroelectric plant and struggles with financial issues that affect its services. Our study looked at how building a 10-megawatt solar power plant could help address these problems. Using mapping tools, we identified the most suitable sites in Marawi, Tugaya, and Ganassi, then designed and assessed a solar system for its performance and cost. The findings are encouraging. A solar plant of this size could lower electricity costs by as much as 32%, making power more affordable for households. It would also reduce LASURECO’s dependence on outside energy sources. While the project requires a large initial investment, it offers strong long-term returns through improved energy security and cleaner, more sustainable power generation.

By integrating GIS-based site suitability assessments and PVSyst simulations for technical and financial analysis, the research provides a framework for electric cooperatives in financially constrained areas to adopt renewable energy solutions. It highlights the feasibility of deploying utility-scale solar power in remote locations and underscores the need for supportive financing mechanisms and policy interventions to enable such transitions. This work not only benefits LASURECO but also serves as a model for other ECs seeking to bridge electrification gaps and transition to renewable energy in the Philippines and similar developing contexts.

This study matters because it provides a concrete option for bringing reliable electricity to underserved areas. It also gives other electric cooperatives in the Philippines a model they can follow. By showing that renewable energy can be both practical and cost-effective, the project supports nationwide goals to expand energy access, uplift rural communities, and shift toward cleaner energy sources.

Authors: Alnie Demoral and Rinlee Butch M. Cervera (Energy Engineering Graduate Program, National Graduate School of Engineering, University of the Philippines Diliman)

Read the full paper: https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1755-1315/1511/1/012011

Map by Plgu-lds, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

A 10-megawatt solar power plant in three sites in Lanao del Sur can significantly reduce electricity costs while improving energy security and access in the province

In Lanao del Sur, many families continue to face limited access to affordable and reliable electricity. The local cooperative, LASURECO, relies primarily on a single hydroelectric plant and struggles with financial issues that affect its services. Our study looked at how building a 10-megawatt solar power plant could help address these problems. Using mapping tools, we identified the most suitable sites in Marawi, Tugaya, and Ganassi, then designed and assessed a solar system for its performance and cost. The findings are encouraging. A solar plant of this size could lower electricity costs by as much as 32%, making power more affordable for households. It would also reduce LASURECO’s dependence on outside energy sources. While the project requires a large initial investment, it offers strong long-term returns through improved energy security and cleaner, more sustainable power generation.

By integrating GIS-based site suitability assessments and PVSyst simulations for technical and financial analysis, the research provides a framework for electric cooperatives in financially constrained areas to adopt renewable energy solutions. It highlights the feasibility of deploying utility-scale solar power in remote locations and underscores the need for supportive financing mechanisms and policy interventions to enable such transitions. This work not only benefits LASURECO but also serves as a model for other ECs seeking to bridge electrification gaps and transition to renewable energy in the Philippines and similar developing contexts.

This study matters because it provides a concrete option for bringing reliable electricity to underserved areas. It also gives other electric cooperatives in the Philippines a model they can follow. By showing that renewable energy can be both practical and cost-effective, the project supports nationwide goals to expand energy access, uplift rural communities, and shift toward cleaner energy sources.

Authors: Alnie Demoral and Rinlee Butch M. Cervera (Energy Engineering Graduate Program, National Graduate School of Engineering, University of the Philippines Diliman)

Read the full paper: https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1755-1315/1511/1/012011

Map by Plgu-lds, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons