New Clark City (NCC) is a flagship greenfield smart city project of the Philippines, developed by the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) as a model for low-carbon and climate-resilient urban development. Located on elevated terrain in Tarlac Province, NCC is designed to reduce disaster risks while supporting sustainable economic growth and decentralization from Metro Manila.
The city adopts an all-electric and low-carbon planning concept, integrating renewable energy, smart grids, and high-efficiency urban systems. Solar photovoltaic (PV) generation with battery energy storage systems (BESS) and a planned waste-to-energy facility will supply local clean power and reduce dependence on fossil-fuel-based grid electricity. A key strategy is the use of district cooling systems, which can significantly reduce cooling-related electricity demand compared with conventional building air-conditioning, especially in large government and commercial complexes.
Low-carbon mobility is promoted through public transport–oriented development, including electric buses, Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), cycling infrastructure, pedestrian networks, and intelligent transpofrtation systems. Green building standards, passive cooling design, and extensive green-blue corridors further reduce urban heat and energy demand.
Through public–private partnerships and private investment in clean energy and infrastructure, NCC aims to demonstrate a scalable model of low-carbon urbanization for the Asia-Pacific region.
Description of Town
Type of Town:
☒ Urban (Central Business District)
☐ Urban (Mainly consists of commercial area)
☐ Urban (Mainly consists of residential area)
☐ Village (village)
☐ Village (island)
☐ Others
Coverage rate of population with access to tap water: 100%
Coverage rate of population with access to gas: 0% (NCC's urban planning prioritizes "All-Electric" initiatives and a low-carbon transition; consequently, there is currently no large-scale municipal gas pipeline network within the city.)
Power plant capacity: Planned total power supply capacity: approximately 300–400 MW (long-term target), with current and near-term projects focused on solar PV integrated with BESS, and additional supply from waste-to-energy and grid interconnection.
Number of public transportation vehicles per 10,000 population: 20-30
Popularization rate of telephone, including mobile telephone >117%
Per capita area of paved roads 60m2
Per capita area of public green space 50-60m2
Climate conditions Humid, warm/hot, sunny
Expected Future Development
Expected demographic changes: Long-term master plan target population of up to 1.2 million by 2060.
Expected industrial/economic changes: 800,000jobs will be expected to be created by 2040
Other expected development: The smart transportation network is expected to be completed by 2040.
Town Policy, Vision or Objective
What is the policy, vision, or objective of the town?
• The vision for New Clark City is to establish the Philippines' first "smart, green, and resilient" international metropolis. Its primary policy objective is to catalyze decentralization by decongesting Metro Manila while serving as a sustainable model for climate change adaptation.
Brief outline of the low carbon town development plan:
• Geographical Features: Spanning approximately 9,450 hectares, NCC is situated on a plateau 184 meters above sea level. Sheltered by mountain ranges, it possesses natural flood protection and is shielded from sea-level rise and extreme weather risks.
• Energy Infrastructure: The city utilizes an "All-Electric" layout, anchored by a 500-hectare solar farm and Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS). It also integrates Waste-to-Energy (WTE) facilities and district cooling systems to maximize energy efficiency.
• Low Carbon Goals: A smart transportation network is expected to be completed by 2040, prioritizing Electric Vehicles (EVs), autonomous buses, and extensive Non-Motorized Transport (NMT) lanes for walking and cycling.
• Livability Goals: The "Green-Blue Network" combines rivers and forests to provide over 50 $m^2$ of public green space per capita, effectively mitigating the urban heat island effect.
Current stage of development of the town:
☐ Planning stage
☒ Construction stage
☐ Already existing
Start date of the project: 2016
Completion date of the project: 2060
Low Carbon Measures
Does your low carbon town or development plan have CO2 emission reduction target?:
☐ Yes
☒ No
Key low carbon measures employed or to be employed
Urban functions
☒ Compact city design
☒ Heat island phenomenon countermeasures
☒ Efficient road arrangement plan
☒ Well-developed public transportation
☐ Car Sharing
☒ Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS)
☒ Plan for highly efficient infrastructure
☐ Other
Industry sector
☒ Factory energy management system
☒ Other
Transport sector
☒ Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)
☐ Light Rail Transit (LRT)
☒ Intra-city community bicycle
☒ Electric vehicle
☒ Electric busses
☒ LED street lighting
☐ Other
Residential sector
☐ Fuel cells
☒ Low or zero emission houses
☐ Eco-friendly home appliances
☒ PV panel
☐ Solar heated water supply facilities
☐ Heat-pump hot water supply with natural refrigerant
☒ Use of natural light
☒ Low emission glass
☐ Home Energy Management System (HEMS)
☒ Thermal storage air conditioning system
☒ Other
Commercial sector
☒ Low or zero emission building
☐ High insulation/highly airtight materials
☒ Sun shading system
☒ High performance facade
☒ Low emission glass
☐ Double skin facade
☒ Roof greening
☒ Highly efficient air conditioning facilities
☒ LED/Inverter lighting
☒ Use of natural light
☒ Building Energy Management System (BEMS)
☒ Thermal storage air conditioning system
☐ Other
Other demand side measures: Passive Cooling Urban Design
Renewable energy
☒ PV power generation
☐ Solar thermal utilization
☒ Biomass power generation
☐ Wind power generation
☐ Geo-thermal power generation
☐ Micro-hydroelectric power generation
☒ Others: Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS)
Untapped energy
☐ Use of sea/river water
☒ Use of waste heat such as waste incineration plants
☐ Use of waste heat such as sewage treatment plants
☐ Use of waste heat from factories
☒ Others: River Water Cooling
Other supply side measures: Integrated Utility Tunnels (IUT)
Demand and supply side measures
☒ Advanced metering systems
☒ Smart grid system
☐ Electric condenser system
☒ Area Energy Management System
☐ Others
Estimated cost savings in implementing low-carbon measures: Break down by Activity/Sector, potential source, estimated savings – e.g.:
• Major savings are expected from district cooling systems, solar PV with BESS, and energy-efficient buildings.
• District cooling may reduce cooling-related electricity demand by up to 40–50% compared with conventional air-conditioning systems.
• Solar PV and waste-to-energy generation reduce reliance on grid electricity and fossil fuels, lowering operating costs for public facilities and commercial buildings.
• Overall operational energy cost savings are expected at the city scale, particularly for large government and commercial complexes, though household-level savings will vary by building type and occupancy.
Estimated energy consumption before completion of the project:
• Based on projected peak electricity demand of approximately 250 MW at full build-out and an assumed average load factor of 60%, annual electricity consumption is estimated at approximately:
1,314 GWh/year (≈ 4,730,000 GJ/year or 113,000 toe/year).
Estimated energy consumption after completion of the project:
• With implementation of district cooling, high-performance buildings, smart grids, and on-site renewable energy, total electricity demand could be reduced by approximately 40–50% compared to conventional urban development, resulting in estimated annual consumption of:
650–790 GWh/year (≈ 2,350,000–2,840,000 GJ/year or 56,000–68,000 toe/year).
Project Management
What central/local government departments are/will be involved in development of the project?
Central Government
• Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) — All stages: master planning, land management, PPP/JV structuring, procurement, and overall project management and asset administration.
• Department of Energy (DOE) — Intermediary & implementation: policy support and regulatory oversight for power generation and renewable energy projects.
• Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) — Intermediary & implementation: environmental impact assessment (EIA), environmental compliance certificates, and environmental monitoring.
• Department of Transportation (DOTr) — Development & implementation (external): national rail and transport links serving NCC (e.g., North–South Commuter Railway).
• Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) — Financing stage: provides loans for government facilities and infrastructure within NCC.
Local Government
• Provincial Government of Tarlac; Municipalities of Capas and Bamban — Intermediary & implementation: local permits, utilities coordination, community engagement, and local services.
What private company, non-governmental organizations are/will be involved in development of the project?
Energy & Utilities
• Gurīn Energy / Sindicatum C-Solar Power Inc. — Development → construction → operation: solar PV plants in NCC.
• ACWA Power (Saudi Arabia) — Development stage: renewable energy and storage project development (early-stage agreements).
• ATD Waste-to-Energy Corp. + partners (Global Heavy Equipment & Construction, Uttamenergy) — Construction → operation: waste-to-energy facility (600 t/day, ~12 MW).
• Marubeni Corp. & United District Energy International (UDEI) — Feasibility & development: low-carbon district cooling systems.
• Urban Development Filinvest Land, Inc. (JV with BCDA) — Development → construction → operation: mixed-use and industrial estate development inside NCC.
NGOs
• No Policy-accurate major NGOs are publicly reported as core developers; NGO participation is mainly through EIA consultations and stakeholder processes.
How is/will be the development of the town funded?
• Public sector (BCDA): land contribution, master planning, enabling infrastructure, and regulatory facilitation.
• Public–Private Partnerships (PPP) / Joint Ventures (JV): major land development projects (e.g., BCDA–Filinvest JV).
• Private project finance: energy projects (solar, WtE, cooling systems) funded by private developers via equity and project loans.
• Government financial institutions: loans for public facilities (e.g., DBP financing for government complexes).
• ODA / national budget (external infrastructure): railways and major access roads funded through national programs and multilateral development banks (e.g., ADB, JICA).
Other relevant information, if any:
• NCC hosts the National Government Administrative Center (NGAC), designed for disaster resilience and government continuity.
• NCC is planned as a low-carbon and smart city, integrating district cooling, renewable energy, waste-to-energy, and smart grid systems.
• Development is phased, with different sectors (government core, industrial zones, residential/mixed-use) progressing at different timelines.