ACEN, US partner test run hybrid project in India
ACEN Corp. and United States-based BrightNight have started testing and commissioning the first phase of their hybrid wind-solar park in India.
In a joint statement on Friday, the energy platform of the Ayala group said the Optima Maharashtra project is expected to generate electricity at 115 megawatts (MW).
The facility, one of the first colocated wind-solar projects in the state of Maharashtra, is expected to boost the state’s target of sourcing more than half of its power needs from clean energy sources by 2030.
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ACEN said the project can supply electricity to about 230,000 homes annually while cutting carbon emissions by 225,000 metric tons.
“Our partnership with BrightNight on this project represents a significant step forward in accelerating the energy transition in India,” said Patrice Clausse, chief executive officer of ACEN International.
Jerome Ortiz, CEO of BrightNight Asia-Pacific, said the project could pave the way for similar developments in the region.
“We are actively advancing our gigawatt-scale portfolio in India, where we will leverage cutting-edge technology to deliver reliable, round-the-clock clean and sustainable power,” Ortiz said.
“Optima Maharashtra perfectly aligns with the State’s clean energy goals and India’s vision to be a net zero carbon emitter by 2070,” he added.
1,200-MW pipeline
The two companies teamed up in 2023 to build a portfolio of 1,200 MW in the Indian market, where they committed an investment amounting to $250 million.
Earlier last year, the two partners also sealed an agreement to ramp up the deployment of large-scale renewable projects in the Philippines.
ACEN has set a goal of 20,000 MW of renewable capacity by 2030. For this year, the firm is looking to invest at least P70 billion.
BrightNight, a known renewable player in the global market, is developing a portfolio of 37,000 MW across the United States and Asia-Pacific region, including the Philippines, India, Australia and Bangladesh. —Lisbet K. Esmael
