In the Philippines, ACEN is building a 948 MW renewable hub in Zambales, combining solar projects and 1,660 MWh of battery storage, in a major regional energy infrastructure development.
ACEN is developing a 948 megawatt (MW) renewable energy hub in Zambales province, Philippines, combining solar projects and battery storage systems. The portfolio includes the 585 MW SanMar Solar project, built across more than 500 hectares of previously unused lahar-covered land, and the 363 MW Palauig Solar project, described by the company as one of the country’s largest solar developments. According to ACEN, around 450 MW of the combined solar capacity is already operational, with the remainder under construction and expected to be completed by 2027.
ACEN has started construction of 1,660 megawatt-hours (MWh) of battery energy storage systems (BESS) across its Zambales solar facilities, to store excess electricity and support supply during peak demand periods. This announcement comes as global battery storage capacity is set to sextuple by 2030, according to industry forecasts. By comparison, the Waltrop battery park advances to construction phase with 900 MW capacity in Germany, illustrating the global growth of this type of infrastructure. The company has also completed 14 kilometres of transmission infrastructure connecting its renewable energy facilities to the Luzon grid, with another 22 kilometres under construction.
Once fully operational, the Zambales solar facilities are expected to generate around 1,400 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of clean electricity annually, enough, according to ACEN, to power approximately 340,000 households and reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels.
ACEN says around 80% of the project workforce comes from nearby communities, including members of the Ayta Indigenous Peoples community. The company has also built around 6 kilometres of roads and bridges to improve access for remote indigenous communities, reducing travel times and improving connectivity to schools, hospitals and markets.
“Renewable energy projects should create value far beyond the electricity they generate,” said Miguel de Jesus, managing director and chief operating officer for Philippine Development and Operations at ACEN. According to him, the Zambales hub combines infrastructure construction, local job creation, support for indigenous communities and the strengthening of the country’s long-term energy security.
ACEN states that the Zambales renewable energy hub will also contribute to the Philippines’ energy transition by reducing dependence on imported fuels and exposure to fuel price volatility and foreign exchange fluctuations. Once fully operational, the projects are expected to avoid around 800,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions annually, equivalent to removing approximately 175,000 gasoline-powered cars from the road each year, according to the company.
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