Ayala-led AC Energy Corporation (ACEN) has tapped Power Construction Corporation of China Ltd. and its local subsidiary PowerChina Philippines Corporation as engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contactor for its 283-megawatt solar farm project in San Marcelino, Zambales.
The Ayala company announced that the notice-to-proceed has already been issued to its Chinese firm-contractor on Wednesday, Nov. 3.
Upon completion, the greenfield solar project will be the biggest solar project to be ever installed in the country. It is in line with the intensifying race for renewable energy investments as underpinned by government policies.
Once the facility reaches commercial operation, it will have the capacity to generate as much as 421 gigawatt-hours (GWh), according to ACEN. It will also extinguish about 287,796 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions annually.
The Zambales solar installation of ACEN will be implemented via its wholly owned subsidiary Santa Cruz Solar Energy Inc., which will also serve as the project-owner for the facility.
The Ayala firm vouched that the San Marcelino solar farm “will feature the latest solar technologies, such as east-west oriented panels and string inverters, to capture solar radiation more efficiently.”
Jose Maria Zabaleta, chief development officer of ACEN, noted “as economies reopen and electricity demand grows further, we aim for sustainable investments to play a leading role in accelerating the greening of the grid to meet our country’s energy needs.”
This new solar development will be sited on “approximately 300 hectares of unutilized land covered by lahar, effectively converting the area to a sustainable energy source, and has expansion potential of up to 700MW.”
ACEN qualified that the project “will bring significant value to the local community with up to 500 direct jobs during the construction period.”
The San Marcelino solar farm development will already be the fifth project of ACEN in the country on this technology sphere, cements its 1,100MW portfolio buildup of ongoing and completed projects.
“ACEN continues to aggressively pursue its renewables strategy while working to meet the country’s energy needs, create jobs for its host communities, protect the environment and promote a sustainable future for all,” the Ayala energy firm said.