Citicore Renewable Energy Corporation's innovative dual land-use initiative AgroSolar impressed this year's judges who chose it as the winning entry for the Community involvement programme of the year for the APAC region.

The Philippines-based renewable energy platform has targeted 1GW of capacity over the next five years through an extensive pipeline of solar projects with environmental and community impact considerations.

This is where the AgroSolar programme comes in. Its dual land-use approach aims to lessen the impact that solar power can have on farmland and agricultural demands.

The AgroSolar programme allows crops to thrive beneath and between solar panels with crop proceeds shared with farmers and reinvested into impactful CSR (corporate social responsibility) initiatives. According to Citicore Renewable Energy Corporation, AgroSolar has successfully yielded over 12,700 kilograms of high-value crops since 2021 while generating renewable energy.

Judges praised the initiative, saying it represented "a desirable combination of climate mitigation and community development for sustainability".

"Citicore Renewable Energy Corporation recognises that the need for rapid greenfield development of solar plants must go hand-in-hand with uplifting communities that might otherwise be displaced," said Oliver Tan at Citicore Renewable Energy Corporation.

"The early success of our AgroSolar initiative – the first of its kind in the Philippines – is a testament to how sustainable development can – and should – be a priority. We also channel proceeds from our share of crop sales into other CSR activities, ensuring a cycle of positive impact can continue."