- ACEN says it will build a 1 GW floating solar plant on the Philippines’ Laguna Lake
- The facility will be installed as 8 blocks of 100 hectares each, for which it awaits regulatory approvals
- It is ACEN’s 1st large-scale floating solar project as it targets 20 GW renewable energy capacity by 2030
The renewable energy arm of Ayala Group of the Philippines, ACEN plans to build a 1 GW floating solar PV project on the country’s largest freshwater lake under an agreement with the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA).
ACEN won the project under a competitive solicitation process conducted by the LLDA in July 2023. The entire capacity is expected to be sited as 8 blocks of 100 hectares each in the lake’s southern and eastern sections.
The listed energy platform of Ayala is waiting for the Department of Energy to clear its Solar Energy Operating Contracts (SEOC) for 800 hectares of Laguna Lake’s water surface to host the project.
“As we explore the potential of our first large-scale floating solar project which will be a crucial part of ACEN’s master plan to achieve our 2030 goal, we are excited to spearhead this energy innovation in the Philippines,” said ACEN President and CEO Eric Francia.
ACEN aims to develop a portfolio of 20 GW greenfield renewable energy projects by 2030. Its current self-owned portfolio comprises 4.4 GW, including 98% renewable, in the Philippines, Australia, Vietnam, Indonesia and India. The company aims to switch to 100% renewable energy by 2025.
SunAsia Energy and Blueleaf Energy announced winning the contract to build the world’s largest floating solar plant on Laguna Lake with 610.5 MW capacity in May 2023 (see Philippines Awards 600 MW+ Floating Solar Capacity).
In July 2023, the Philippines awarded over 3.58 GW solar PV capacity under its Green Energy Auction round 2 with solar PV winning 2.068 GW including a 90 MW floating PV facility in Luzon (see Philippines Concludes GEA-2 Auction Round).
