Solar on stilts project: Philippines is building 422 MW of solar farms above fish ponds

Philippines is building 422 MW of solar farms above fish ponds using a design called Solar on Stilts, which lifts panels on steel piles to let fish farming continue underneath.

VinEnergo (energy arm of Vietnam's Vingroup) and Philippine developer SunAsia Energy agreed to build the project across three sites: Macabebe in Pampanga (181 MW), Sagay in Negros Occidental (126 MW), and Silay in Negros Occidental (115 MW).

The pile-supported structure is chosen to withstand typhoons better than conventional floating solar, which uses pontoons that shade water and raise concerns for aquatic life.

The completed plants are expected to power around 278,000 households, cut carbon emissions by over 460,000 tons annually, and generate more than $1.5 billion in lifetime revenue.

The agreement was signed on June 26 in Hanoi, with plants targeted to come online in 2027 and 2028.