ACEN Corporation, the renewable energy arm of Ayala Corporation, has announced plans to invest approximately PHP15.8 billion to develop a 2,000 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) at its San Marcelino solar park in Zambales in the Philippines. The project is intended to strengthen grid reliability and improve the stability of electricity generated from the facility, which is currently the largest solar power plant in the Philippines.
The San Marcelino solar park has an installed capacity of 585 MW and supplies electricity to more than 120,000 households. Construction of the battery storage facility is expected to begin in the third quarter of 2026, subject to regulatory approvals, with completion targeted by the end of 2027 and commissioning planned for early 2028. The project forms part of ACEN’s broader renewable energy expansion strategy, with the company allocating over PHP80 billion in capital expenditure for 2026, most of which will be invested in domestic renewable energy projects across the Philippines.