ACWA Power and the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) have signed a reservation agreement to advance a large-scale renewable energy project in New Clark City, during the World Economic Forum 2026 in Davos.

Under the agreement, the parties will collaborate on a utility-scale solar project, with the potential integration of a battery energy storage system (BESS), within the New Clark City Special Economic Zone. The reservation covers approximately 500 hectares of land and marks another step toward a future long-term lease and project construction.

A reservation agreement signals that a project has moved beyond initial discussions and into site-specific planning, thus allowing technical assessments and pre-feasibility studies to proceed on a defined area. While it is not yet a final investment decision, it indicates progress toward a large-scale deployment.

The project is intended to provide clean, reliable, and affordable power to energy-intensive and sustainability-driven industries located in New Clark City, which will ultimately support the area’s development as a smart and green economic hub.

The agreement builds on a memorandum of understanding signed in November 2025, after which ACWA Power and BCDA worked to identify and shortlist potential sites. A 500-hectare area has now been selected for pre-feasibility studies, with the parties exploring a combination of solar generation and BESS technologies to improve dispatch and grid flexibility.

ACWA Power chief executive officer Marco Arcelli said the agreement supports the company’s expansion in the Philippines and the country’s energy transition. “This reservation agreement with BCDA is an important step in expanding ACWA Power’s presence in the Philippines and supporting the country’s energy transition,” Arcelli said.

“By combining our global expertise in utility-scale renewable energy and storage solutions with New Clark City’s vision as a climate-resilient economic hub, we aim to deliver a robust platform for green industrial growth,” he added.

ACWA Power said the partnership leverages its global renewable energy portfolio, which includes 52 gigawatts of renewables and 5.6 gigawatt-hours of installed battery storage, alongside BCDA’s mandate to improve upon major growth centers.

How could large-scale renewable projects shape New Clark City’s role as a hub for sustainable and energy-intensive industries?

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This article was originally prepared for January 27, 2026 and published later due to temporary site downtime.