ACEN starts construction of solar farm in Zambales

MANILA, Philippines — AC Energy Corp. (ACEN) has started the construction of a 283-megawatt (MW) solar farm in San Marcelino, Zambales as the company continues to expand its renewables capacity in the country.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange yesterday, ACEN said it secured approval from its executive committee to raise the capacity of the San Marcelino project from 250 MW to 283 MW.

ACEN said the project would be the largest solar farm in the country, capable of producing over 421 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of renewable energy per year and eliminating 287,796 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually.

“The San Marcelino solar farm marks the fifth facility that we have commenced with construction this year, and these project milestones all make for a fascinating period in the expansion of our renewable energy portfolio,” ACEN chief development officer Jose Maria Zabaleta said.

ACEN said the solar farm is targeted for completion by the first half of 2023, which would help address the potential power shortages in the country as energy demand continues to grow.

“As economies reopen and electricity demand grows further, we will aim for sustainable investments to play a leading role in accelerating the greening of the grid to meet our country’s needs,” Zabaleta said.

The San Marcelino solar farm will feature the latest solar technologies such as east-west oriented panels and string inverters to capture solar radiation more efficiently.

Wholly owned subsidiary Santa Cruz Solar Energy Inc. issued the notice to proceed to Power Construction Corp. of China Ltd. and PowerChina Philippines Corp., which were tapped as the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractors for the project.

The solar farm sits on approximately 300-hectares of unutilized land covered by lahar, effectively converting the area to a sustainable energy source, and has an expansion potential of up to 700 MW.

The project will bring significant value to the local community with up to 500 direct jobs during the construction period, generating employment opportunities for thousands across Zambales.

Once completed, the San Marcelino solar farm will contribute significantly to ACEN’s goal of reaching 5,000 MW of renewables capacity by 2025, towards becoming the largest listed renewables platform in Southeast Asia.

Last month, ACEN announced its commitment to net zero greenhouse gas emissions to limit global warming by 1.5 degrees by 2050.

The company continues to aggressively pursue its renewables strategy while working to meet the country’s energy needs, create jobs for its host communities, protect the environment, and promote a sustainable future for all.