MAKATI CITY – The Philippine Board of Investments (BOI) has endorsed a significant renewable energy venture with the issuance of a Green Lane Certificate of Endorsement to ACEN’s SanMar Solar, a project developed by the company’s subsidiary, Santa Cruz Solar Energy Inc. (SCSEI), which aims to boost the country’s clean energy capacity.
Making It Happen with ACEN. The BOI team handed over the Green Lane Certificate of Endorsement to ACEN officials at the ACEN Office on August 29, 2024. In the photo are the following (L-R): Atty. Lucky Aranas, ACEN Manager for Legal and Regulatory; Ms. Kat Minimo, Project Development Manager; Mr. Duane Eric Cramer, Head of Philippine Development; Ms. Anabele Natividad, ACEN Senior Vice President for Development; BOI Executive Director Bobby G. Fondevilla, Investments Assistance Center; Director Ernesto C. Delos Reyes, Jr. Investments Assistance Service (IAS); Mr. Lubin R. De Vera, Jr, IAS; Ms. Hershey Serrano, IAS.
BOI Executive Director Bobby G. Fondevilla, along with officials from the BOI One-Stop Action Center for Strategic Investments (OSAC-SI), formally presented the Green Lane Certificate of Endorsement to Ms. Anabele Natividad, ACEN Senior Vice President for Development at the ACEN Office on August 29, 2024. The plant, strategically located in Zambales, is expected to generate up to 587 MWp of solar energy once fully operational.
SanMar Solar is being developed in three phases. Construction of Phases 1 and 2 is already underway, with commercial operations targeted for Q3 2024. Phase 3 is scheduled for completion by Q4 2025. At the peak of construction, the project will employ up to 2,000 skilled workers, with Phases 1 and 2 alone generating a workforce of 3,600.
“We are deeply grateful for the BOI’s green lane endorsement, which will significantly expedite the processes and requirements for SanMar Solar and enable us to meet our project timeline. This support reinforces our commitment to ongoing collaboration with the government to accelerate the nation’s transition to renewable energy,” said Ms. Anabele Natividad, ACEN Senior Vice President for Development.
This endorsement marks the 8th Green Lane project for ACEN, highlighting the government’s support in streamlining processes for large-scale investments under Executive Order No. 18. Investment Assistance Service (IAS) Director Ernesto Delos Reyes assured the company of the whole-of-government support and cross-cutting facilitation from construction until the project’s commercial operation in 2025.
ACEN is the publicly listed energy platform of the Ayala Group with a rapidly expanding presence across the Philippines, Australia, Vietnam, India, Indonesia, Lao PDR, and the U.S.A. ACEN is leading the charge in the renewable energy transition. The company currently manages a substantial 4.8 GW of attributable renewable energy capacity, both operational and under construction.
With the Philippines as its home and priority market, ACEN is fast-tracking the expansion of its renewable energy portfolio to align with the nation’s decarbonization goals and meet the increasing demand for clean energy.
Currently, the company’s domestic assets include 1,850 MW of solar, wind, and geothermal capacity.
ACEN is committed to delivering clean, reliable, and affordable energy across the Asia-Pacific region. The company has set an ambitious target to increase its renewable energy capacity to 20 GW by 2030. As a pioneer in sustainable practices, ACEN is spearheading initiatives for the early retirement of coal plants and has pledged to achieve Net Zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
As of August 2024, a total of 115 projects have been approved through the Green Lane initiative, representing Php3.204 trillion in investments.