Ayala-led ACEN Corp., through its Australian unit, has secured approval from the Federal Government for the Robbins Island wind project, which is expected to be one of the largest private investments in Tasmania.

The company said the grant comes after more than eight years of assessments by various government levels, including detailed studies of the island’s natural values.

The project is valued at around $3 billion and is expected to power approximately 500,000 households, as well as deliver more than $30 million.

David Pollington, ACEN Australia managing director, said the government’s approval comes at a crucial time, as the country grapples with a stalled energy transition and mounting power challenges.

“The decision shows that large, complex projects can be delivered responsibly, balancing overall impacts and conserving biodiversity, with the need for clean energy to address climate change,” he said. “It comes at a time when Australia faces a stalling energy transition and looming power shortages as coal exits the system.”

Moreover, the wind project in Robbins Island is expected to produce 30 percent more power than the average wind asset in the country.

With Victoria expected to lose half of its coal generation by 2035, Pollington said the newly approved Robbins Island Wind project will play a crucial role in reducing emissions in Tasmania.

“This is particularly important for Victoria, which will lose half of its coal generation by 2035,” he added.

Moving forward, Killian Wentrup, ACEN Australia’s head of development, expressed confidence that the company could expand its contribution in the country.

“ACEN is on track to become a significant player in Australia’s energy market. By 2030, with projects like Valley of the Winds, Birriwa solar and battery hybrid, and our Phoenix pumped hydro development, we will have built several gigawatts of solar, wind, and firming capacity,” he told reporters during an interview in Sydney.

In June, the 900 MW Valley of the Winds project was approved by the New South Wales (NSW) Independent Planning Commission, allowing it to progress to its construction phase.

The Birriwa solar and battery project is also moving forward, having recently submitted a modification application for government approval.

In addition, the company is looking into advancing the proposed Phoenix pumped hydropower project, which would have a potential capacity of 800 megawatts (MW) through its off-stream, upper, and lower storage reservoirs.

Furthermore, the early commissioning of Stubbo Solar and its initial injection into the National Electricity Market (NEM) contributed to ACEN Australia’s generation output reaching 536 gigawatt-hours (GWh).

The NEM is a wholesale spot market in Australia that connects five regional markets: Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and Tasmania.

Moreover, ACEN reported that its Australia operations generated ₱1.3 billion in attributable revenues during the first six months of the year.