ACEN starts operating 120 MW solar plant in Laguna

MANILA, Philippines — AC Energy Inc. (ACEN) has started operating its second solar farm this year, boosting its local renewable energy portfolio and augmenting the Luzon grid’s supply by 120 megawatts (MW).

In a statement, ACEN said the 120-MW GigaSol Alaminos solar plant in Laguna, one of the country’s largest solar farms, is now operational and started exporting renewable energy into the grid.

“We are pleased to add much needed capacity to the grid as electricity supply remains tight,” ACEN president and CEO Eric Francia said.

The project, which will supply clean energy to around 80,000 homes while avoiding 111,034.37 metric tons of carbon emissions of greenhouse gases, is notable for its pioneering sustainability hub where ACEN has started to integrate the circular approach.

ACEN said the Philippines remains to be the company’s core market even as it continues to expand its renewables footprint in Asia Pacific.

“AC Energy has already added 183 MW of solar capacity to the grid earlier this year, and we also expect to start the operations of the 150 MW Ingrid power quick response thermal plant in Pililla, Rizal in the next few weeks,” Francia said.

“We have another 276 MW of renewables capacity under construction in the Philippines, with plans to double this capacity before the end of the year,” he said.

Even during the pandemic, ACEN has carried out the construction of various renewable energy projects, including the four-MW Bataan RE Tech Hub, the 40-MW Alaminos battery storage in Laguna, the 72-MW Arayat-Mexico solar in Pampanga, and the 160-MW gigawind in Ilocos Norte.

The renewable energy projects are critical additions to the energy space as a disruptive power shortage persists, ACEN said.

“In further augmenting our generating capacity amidst the pandemic, we were able to build a solid platform from which we can continue our rapid renewables acceleration in the region, while also helping the country to “build back better,” ACEN chief development officer Jose Maria Zabaleta said.

“We were able to create jobs and help build economic resilience while playing a significant role in aiding the country’s energy security,” he said.

Meanwhile, ACEN said it remains committed to creating shared value for all its stakeholders by embedding sustainability in its corporate strategy.

In particular, the company is piloting a sustainability hub in the Gigasol Alaminos solar farm.

It partnered with Green Antz to pilot the circular approach in the solar farm, wherein 32,540 kg of plastic collected from the solar panel packaging materials – equivalent to about 25 compact size cars – were upcycled into eco-bricks and used in building facilities within the plant.