Acciona expands presence, social impact activities in PH

Acciona Chairman and CEO Jose Manuel Entrecanales visits El Nido, Palawan, where acciona.org, the energy and water foundation of Acciona is strengthening its efforts in providing solar home units to communities. With him in the photo are Jose Entrecanales, chief financial and sustainability officer of Acciona Energia; Ruben Camba, managing director in Southeast Asia of Acciona Infrastructure; Ignacio Domecq, business development director in Southeast Asia of Acciona Energia, and Jose Gabriel Martin, director of Acciona Foundation.

MANILA, Philippines — A global leader in sustainable infrastructure and renewable energy is expanding its presence in the Philippines.

Acciona Energía has acquired an 80-percent stake in Freya Renewables, a consulting firm for renewable development.

During a visit to the country, José Manuel Entrecanales, chairman and CEO of Acciona, also committed to expanding the activities of acciona.org, the company’s foundation, in providing access to electricity through solar home systems in Palawan’s underserved communities as part of its “Light at Home” program.

The acquisition of the stake in Freya Renewables by Acciona Energía brings an additional portfolio of 880 megawatts under development.

During his trip, Entrecanales held meetings with Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs Secretary Frederic Go and Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, among others, and also confirmed that Acciona Energía will soon construct, operate, and maintain a 150-MW solar power plant in Daanbantayan, which will be the country’s first public-private-partnership in solar power generation.

READ: Spanish conglomerate Acciona champions sustainability in PH

The renewable energy company recently announced the development of another 156-MW wind farm in the municipality of Pantabangan, located 150 kilometers north of Manila. Additionally, it has commenced construction of the 100-MW Kalayaan 2 wind farm in Laguna Province.

The Philippine government is promoting the development of renewables to reduce its dependence on imported fossil fuels and has set targets to increase the share of renewable energy in the energy mix to 35  percent by 2030 and 50 percent by 2040.

Social impact

Entrecanales also visited El Nido in Palawan to witness firsthand the impact of the initiatives of the acciona.org foundation in the country.

Through collaborations with the Ayala Foundation and co-financing with the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation and Development (AECID), 600 households have benefited from Acciona’s clean energy program for off-grid and underserved communities. It now plans to extend support to 600 more homes, along with 20 community centers and businesses.

Looking ahead, Acciona is set to expand its reach to rural communities across Palawan, impacting over 1,500 households by 2025.

READ: Acciona turns over US$127 million Putatan II drinking water treatment plant to Maynilad

In addition to its local initiatives, acciona.org is exploring collaborations with organizations such as UNICEF and the Green Climate Fund to further amplify its impact. Ongoing discussions with stakeholders highlight the organization’s commitment to creating lasting change not only in Palawan but also in other areas of the Philippines.

Acciona already has a significant presence in the Philippines, where it has been operating through its water and construction business since 2016 and has developed flagship projects such as the Cebu Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX), and the Putatan II and Laguna Lake drinking water treatment plants.

The acciona.org foundation began working with underserved communities in the country in 2021, helping areas that had neither access to basic electricity service nor any expectation of connection to the conventional electricity grid in the short term.