ACEN, the listed renewable energy platform of Philippine conglomerate Ayala Corporation, announced it has surpassed 2,100 MWdc (~1,600 MWac) of attributable renewable capacity in India. The statement was made during the state visit of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., held to mark the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations with India.
Patrice Clausse, Chief Executive Officer of ACEN International, said that India has become a key market in the group’s regional strategy. Since its entry in 2019, ACEN has established two significant partnerships in the country: with UPC Renewables India and Yanara, formerly BrightNight India.
A portfolio spread across five states
Projects in India currently amount to 630 MWdc (420 MWac) in operation, with additional capacity under development across Rajasthan, Karnataka, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh. The partnership with UPC Renewables includes three operational solar farms: Sitara Solar (140 MWdc / 100 MWac), Paryapt Solar (70 MWdc / 50 MWac), and Masaya Solar (420 MWdc / 300 MWac).
In parallel, ACEN is working with Yanara on hybrid and dispatchable projects, including the Optima project of 153 MWdc (114 MWac) in Maharashtra, which is already partially commissioned. These projects aim to improve the reliability of renewable generation on the Indian grid.
Secured capacities and upcoming developments
The immediate pipeline includes a 420 MWdc (300 MWac) solar plant, two dispatchable renewable energy projects totalling 806 MW (~709 MWac) in Rajasthan, and a 120 MW wind farm in Karnataka. All of these projects have already secured power purchase agreements with public sector utilities such as Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited (SECI), Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVN), National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC), and National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC).
According to Alok Nigam, Chief Executive Officer of UPC Renewables India, India’s political and regulatory environment offers favourable conditions for the development of large-scale infrastructure. He stated that India is rapidly becoming a major global player in the clean energy sector.
Investment environment optimisation
In a meeting with business leaders, Clausse emphasised the need to improve the investment climate in the country. He highlighted several areas for improvement, including the reduction of delays in awarding power purchase contracts, enhancement of transmission infrastructure, simplification of administrative procedures, and effective implementation of legal compensation mechanisms in case of regulatory changes.
Jerome Ortiz, Chief Executive Officer of Yanara, said that cooperation between the Indian and Philippine governments is enabling the deployment of multi-gigawatt portfolios, meeting growing electrification needs and network reliability requirements.
