SAN MARCELINO, Zambales — ACEN Corporation, the publicly listed renewable energy platform of the Ayala Group, has announced P9.24 billion in funding for two major solar energy projects in Zambales in an aggressive expansion program to install 20 gigawatts of clean energy infrastructure by 2030.

ACEN said in a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange that it extended a P6-billion loan to its subsidiary Sanmar Solar, Inc. to build a 500-megawatt (MW)/1,000-megawatt-hour (MWh) battery energy storage system in San Marcelino.

The battery storage facility will be integrated with an existing solar plant at Barangay Sta. Fe here to create an integrated renewable energy and storage system, ACEN added.

In a separate disclosure, ACEN said it loaned P3.24 billion to another subsidiary, Giga Ace 8, Inc. for the 300-megawatt direct current (MWdc) Palauig 2 Solar Project.

The loan facility will also fund construction of transmission lines and substation infrastructure at Barangays Salaza and Buhawen in Palauig.

However, ACEN disclosed on September 18 in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission that its subsidiary Solar Ace2 Energy Corp. has given up its solar energy operating contract (SEOC) for a solar project in Botolan town due to “site access constraints.”

SolarAce2 was supposed to develop a 150.119-megawatt peak (MWp) solar project and has reportedly secured barangay and municipal endorsements and land-reclassification approval in 2021, as well as a conversion order from the Department of Agrarian Reform in 2022.

The cancellation of the Botolan contract will not materially affect its operations, ACEN said, as the project is still in the early stages of development and has not reached a final investment decision. – Taktikom News & Features

COVER PHOTO: Gov. Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. visits the SanMar Solar, Inc.’s facility with Mayor Elvis Soria on September 1 (ZFTP)