AC Energy to build ₧11.4-B wind farm in Ilocos Norte
BY LENIE LECTURA – MAY 20, 2021
from Business Mirror
AC Energy Corp. (ACEN), the energy arm of Ayala Corp., will put up the country’s biggest wind farm in Ilocos Norte worth P11.4 billion.
The 160MW Balaoi and Caunayan wind farm in Pagudpud will be completed in the last quarter of 2022, in time for full year operations in 2023, when supply in the Luzon energy market is expected to be tight.
“We are very excited to begin the construction of the Balaoi and Caunayan wind farm, which will be the largest and lowest cost renewable energy producer in the country,” said Jose Maria P. Zabaleta, Chief Development Officer of AC Energy.
“This project will further augment AC Energy’s generating capacity, following our recently completed solar farms and battery storage plants, and will contribute to the growth of our renewables share as we scale up our sustainable investments.”
The project will be the third wind development of AC Energy in Ilocos Norte, along with the NorthWind wind farm in Bangui and the North Luzon Renewables wind farm in Pagudpud.
The latest wind farm project is a joint undertaking with UPC Renewables.
”The site of the Balaoi and Caunayan wind farm has one of the best wind resources in the country and its construction marks the culimation of over ten years of development work. We are grateful for the continuing support of the Ilocos Norte provincial government and the municipality of Pagudpud in helping to bring this project to fruition” said David Sutton, CEO of UPC Renewables Philippines.
The wind farm will utilize turbines from Siemens Gamesa, which will supply, install and commission a total of 32 SG 132 and 145 wind turbines, with a total capacity of 5 MW each.
Once completed, AC Energy will double its wind energy capacity in the country. Upon completion of the infusion of AC Energy International into ACEN, its total renewables capacity will be over 2,000 MW. The company is targeting 5,000MW of renewable energy by 2025.
AC Energy remains committed to play a meaningful role in the country’s green-led recovery, and work towards its aspiration of becoming the largest listed renewables platform in Southeast Asia.
