ACEN Corp. is developing a nearly one gigawatt (GW) renewable energy (RE) hub in Zambales, utilizing solar and battery storage projects.
The RE portfolio includes 948 megawatts (MW) of solar capacity and 1,660 megawatt hour (MWh) of battery storage to enhance grid stability and energy security.
These are composed of the 585-MW SanMar Solar project on former lahar-covered land and the 363-MW Palauig Solar. Of which, approximately 450 MW is already operational, with the remaining capacity currently under construction and expected to be completed within 2027.
To further enhance the reliability and dispatchability of its RE portfolio in Zambales, ACEN recently commenced construction of 1,660 MWh of battery energy storage systems (BESS) across its solar facilities in the province.
The BESS will enable RE generated during periods of high solar output to be stored and delivered when electricity demand is highest, including during evening peak hours and periods of reduced solar generation, helping improve grid stability, support the increasing penetration of RE in the country.
Collectively, ACEN’s solar facilities in Zambales are expected to generate approximately 1,400 GWh of clean electricity annually once fully operational, producing enough RE to power around 340,000 households while reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels.
The company has also completed 14 km kilometers of transmission infrastructure connecting its RE facilities to the Luzon grid, with an additional 22 kilometers currently under construction, further strengthening the country’s transmission network and supporting the growing demand for clean power.
Throughout the development of its Zambales projects, the power firm prioritized local employment, with approximately 80 percent of the project’s workforce coming from surrounding communities.
‘At ACEN, we believe renewable energy projects should create value far beyond the electricity they generate,’ said Miguel de Jesus, Managing ACEN Director and COO for Philippine Development and Operations.
‘In Zambales, we are not only building one of the country’s largest renewable energy hubs-we are investing in infrastructure, creating local jobs, supporting indigenous communities, and strengthening the country’s long-term energy security.’
ACEN, the Ayala Group’s energy platform, has committed to achieving 20 GW of RE capacity by 2030 and reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. It is actively accelerating the energy transition across the Philippines, Australia, Vietnam, and India.
Last May, ACEN reported that its consolidated net income jumped by 50 percent year-on-year to P2.9 billion for the first three months of 2026.
Its total attributable renewable energy output reached 2,230 GWh, up 32 percent, reflecting contributions from newly operationalized international assets in 2025 and the substantial restoration of the company’s wind assets in Ilocos Norte.