ACEN could achieve 5GW renewables capacity before 2025

ACEN-solar

ACEN Corporation, the registered energy platform of the Ayala group, is confident about obtaining its renewable energy target of five gigawatts (GW) capacity earlier than 2025 following the company’s aggressive expansion. 

In a report by the Philippine Star, ACEN chief human resources officer, chief risk officer, and chief administrative officer, John Philip Orbeta shared that the energy firm went from zero to 1,000 megawatts (MW) in five years. They are also launching several plants this year. With that, the company is confident in achieving the five GW target by the end of this year.

According to Orbeta, ACEN’s renewable energy portfolio is currently at 4.2 GW. 

Apart from developing traditional renewable energy portfolio with ground-mounted solar and onshore wind, Orbeta said that ACEN will also look into emerging technologies, like offshore wind and floating solar, to expand its portfolio. 

Orbeta said that they have concession areas in Laguna de Bay in putting up floating solar. 

With a five GW target accessible, ACEN is steadfast in achieving a bigger capacity by 2030, amounting to 20 GW.

The company also completed its first quarter with the Pagudpud wind farm in Ilocos Norte with an installed capacity of 160 MW that’s currently operating at an 80 MW capacity. 

ACEN president and CEO Eric Francia earlier shared that the company is targeting to get the wind farm operational capacity from 80 MW to 135 MW, approximating the second phase beginning next year. 

The 160 MW is aiming for a target date of no later than December 2025 for delivery under the Green Energy Auction Program (GEAP) of the Department of Energy (DOE). 

Meanwhile, the 70-MW Capa Wind, the company’s fourth wind project located in Ilocos Norte, is also under construction. ACEN is aiming to get most of the turbines operational within the next 12 months. The first phase should be completed within 12 months, with an ultimate target of before 2025 to complete everything.

To date, ACEN has a wind portfolio of 426 MW in the Philippines alone, 266 MW are in operation while 150 MW is under construction.  Almost 90% of the company’s wind projects are in Ilocos Norte.