ACEN charges up BESS unit with P850 million funding

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May 5, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — ACEN Corp. is deploying up to P850 million in financing for its subsidiary developing a battery energy storage system (BESS) project in Palauig, Zambales.

The company has executed a short-term loan agreement with Palauig Solar 1 Inc., the project company behind the 140-megawatt-hour (MWh) Palauig 1 BESS.

The loan will be used as initial financing for the facility, which will be built adjacent to and integrated with the existing 63-MW-direct current Palauig Solar 1 plant.

The BESS project is expected to complement the solar plant by storing excess electricity generated during the day for dispatch in the evening, helping address its intermittency.

The project will be completed next year, according to the company’s 2025 report.

Palauig Solar 1 marks the first phase of ACEN’s second-largest solar development in the Philippines, laying the foundation for a planned expansion of at least 300 MW.

Earlier, the company sought clearance from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources for a P26-billion solar plus BESS expansion in Zambales.

As the Ayala Group’s listed energy platform, ACEN owns and operates significant clean power investments in the Philippines and abroad.

For 2026, the company has set aside more than P80 billion for capital spending, with the bulk earmarked for domestic expansion.

“As we scale, execution becomes even more critical. Our ability to deliver projects reliably — on time, on budget and safely — will define the strength and sustainability of our growth,” ACEN president and CEO Eric Francia said.

“We remain committed to advancing the energy transition in the Philippines and across the region, guided by discipline, resilience and a clear sense of purpose,” Francia said.