ACEN, partner power renewable energy project in India

Brix Lelis – The Philippine Star

January 18, 2025 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — Ayala-led ACEN Corp. and US-based BrightNight have started the commissioning of the first phase of their hybrid renewable energy project in India, moving a step closer to commercial operations.

The Optima Maharashtra project, which utilizes wind and solar technologies, is poised to power around 230,000 homes and reduce carbon emissions by 225,000 metric tons annually, ACEN said in a regulatory filing yesterday.

Commissioning, which involves the final steps before the 153-megawatt project begins full operation, is essential to ensure that every component is fully integrated and the system is primed for safe and efficient performance.

“Our partnership with BrightNight on this project represents a significant step forward in accelerating the energy transition in India,” said Patrice Clausse, CEO at ACEN International, a subsidiary of ACEN.

“As a partner deeply committed to renewable energy, ACEN is proud to support this landmark project, which aligns with our shared vision of a sustainable and decarbonized future for the region,” Clausse said.

The Ayala Group’s listed energy platform forged a partnership with BrightNight in 2023 to develop a pipeline of projects with a total capacity of over 1.2 gigawatts (GW) in India.

With this deal, ACEN has committed to invest $250 million in equity, along with related performance guarantees, to support BrightNight’s existing and upcoming projects.

BrightNight Asia Pacific CEO Jerome Ortiz said the parties have been “actively advancing” their large-scale portfolio in India in line with efforts to deliver reliable and uninterrupted clean, sustainable power.

“Optima Maharashtra perfectly aligns with the (Maharashtra) State’s clean energy goals and India’s vision to be a net zero carbon emitter by 2070. It also serves as a pioneering model for similar projects and partnerships in the Asia Pacific region,” Ortiz said.

BrightNight is currently developing a global portfolio of at least 37-GW across the US and Asia-Pacific, with about three-GW of planned projects across India, Australia and the Philippines.

In the Philippines, BrightNight and ACEN earlier announced plans to construct an initial one-GW of renewable power portfolio with an estimated capital investment of $1.2 billion. 

These RE developments in the Philippines and India are expected to further beef up ACEN’s rapidly growing global portfolio that includes projects in Australia, Vietnam, India, Indonesia, Laos and the United States.

To date, the company has 6.8-GW of attributable renewable capacity spanning operational, under construction and committed projects.

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