ACEN boosts funding for Camarines offshore wind project
Ayala-led ACEN Corp. will increase financing for its offshore wind (OSW) project in Camarines, the company announced.
In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange on Monday, Nov. 10, ACEN said it approved additional development funding for the Camarines OSW, along with a budget slated for next year.
While further details remain undisclosed, ACEN partnered with Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners’ (CIP) Growth Markets Fund II last May. CIP took a 25 percent stake in the OSW project.
Located near the coast of San Miguel Bay in Camarines Sur, the OSW development is poised to unlock a potential 1-gigawatt (GW) capacity. The area is said to have abundant wind resources, shallow water depths, access to a nearby substation, and lower typhoon risk.
The OSW facility is expected to enter the fifth Green Energy Auction (GEA-5) of the Department of Energy (DOE) once it commences. GEA-5 is a program specifically for offshore wind projects, anticipating 3,300 megawatts (MW) worth of installed capacity. The DOE has already awarded 92 service contracts for this technology, including the Camarines OSW project.
The project received a green lane status from the Board of Investments (BOI) in February 2024, designed to allow for faster permitting and licensing. It was also granted a Certificate of Energy Project of National Significance (CEPNS) in October last year and a pre-development Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) to begin offshore site survey activities.
Furthermore, the project has secured a connection agreement with the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines.
Once developed, ACEN believes the Camarines wind project will boost the Luzon grid and address increasing energy demand with renewable energy (RE).
The renewable energy firm also said it is increasing its Philippine revolving development fund. This fund provides seed money for the local development team to explore projects up to the final investment decision and build a solid investment case.