Black & Veatch

Project shortlisted across two award categories at Enlit Asia

Black & Veatch and Carmen Copper Corporation have received the Innovation Award, Energy Transition and Emerging Solutions at the Enlit Asia Awards for the Carmen Copper Floating Solar Project, a groundbreaking renewable energy development in The Philippines. The project was also shortlisted for Power Plant Project of the Year.

The award recognises the project’s innovative approach to solving complex engineering, environmental and operational challenges. Located on the Malubog Reservoir in Cebu, the Philippines, the 4.996-MW floating solar facility is the country’s first megawatt-scale floating PV installation and supports operations at one of the nation’s major copper mining sites.

Developing the project required a highly coordinated and innovative engineering strategy. Solar arrays were assembled on floating platforms made from recycled plastic components before being transported across the reservoir and connected in stages. Each section was carefully positioned using sonar-guided GPS technology and secured through a sophisticated anchoring system, ensuring long-term stability and performance.

Senior Vice President, Head of APAC & India at Black & Veatch, Jerin Raj and Emmanuel Arcilla, Project Manager at Black & Veatch collect the Innovation Award with Axel G. Tumulak, Head of Legal, Compliance, and Corporate Governance at Carmen Copper Corporation.

Black & Veatch and Carmen Copper adopted a phased development model that began with technical validation and power system studies before progressing through front-end engineering and EPC delivery. This approach provided confidence in a concept that had not previously been deployed at this scale within the Philippines’ mining sector.

The project’s innovation extends beyond engineering. By converting a man-made reservoir into a renewable energy asset, the development overcame land constraints, avoided disturbance of surrounding areas and provided a pathway for future industrial decarbonisation projects. The result is a practical blueprint that can be replicated by mining companies and other industrial operators across the region.

Safety and workforce development were also central to project success. More than 250,000 safe man-hours were completed without time lost caused by injury, while local workers received training and were integrated into project delivery teams.

The recognition further strengthens the Carmen Copper Floating Solar Project’s reputation as one of the most innovative renewable energy projects delivered in Asia in recent years.

Black & Veatch has operated in Asia Pacific since the 1960s, delivering innovative, reliable, and resilient projects across the region. Today, Black & Veatch employs approximately 1,500 professionals in the region, spread across offices in The Philippines, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. The company is focused on delivering the region’s next generation of human critical infrastructure.