AC Energy Corp. (ACEN) has started the construction of its 283 megawatts (MW) solar farm in San Marcelino, Zambales which is set to be the largest in the country.
To be completed by the first half of 2023, the project is capable of producing over 421 gigawatt hours of renewable energy annually and offset as much as 287,796 tons of carbon dioxide emissions yearly.
The project will be equipped with the latest solar technologies such as east-west oriented panels and string inverters to capture solar radiation more efficiently in a 300-hectares of unutilized land covered by lahar that has an expansion potential of up to 700 MW.
ACEN, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Santa Cruz Solar Energy Inc. as project owner, also tapped Power Construction Corp. of China Ltd. and PowerChina Philippines Corp. as the engineering, procurement and construction contractors for the project.
“The San Marcelino solar farm marks the fifth facility that we have commenced with construction this year and these project milestones all make for a fascinating period in the expansion of our renewable energy portfolio,” said Jose Maria Zabaleta, ACEN chief development officer, in a statement.
Zabaleta added the project is also touted to help in providing the country with a more sustainable and cleaner power source “as economies re-open and electricity demand grows further.”
ACEN targets to build 5,000 MW worth of renewable energy projects by 2025.
ACEN’s attributable capacity at the end of the first half of 2021, already hit 2,589 MW with the start of construction of new projects in the Philippines, Vietnam, India and Australia.– Jed Macapagal
