ACEN brings Ayala power to India’s sun and wind game. Photograph courtesy of ACEN
BUSINESS

ACEN strengthens global clean energy footprint

Two new facilities to add over 500 MW capacity, boost green jobs and carbon savings

Jason Mago

ACEN, the listed energy platform of the Ayala Group, has expanded its international renewable energy portfolio with the groundbreaking of over 500 megawatts (MW) worth of new solar and wind projects in India.

The Philippine-based firm, in partnership with UPC Renewables, has started construction on a 420 MW solar farm in Rajasthan and a 120 MW wind farm in Karnataka – marking another major milestone in its aggressive push into Asia’s fast-growing clean energy markets.

Slated for completion by early 2027, the two facilities are expected to generate a combined 1,158 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of clean energy annually – enough to power around 241,000 homes and offset over 876,000 tons of carbon emissions every year.

“These new projects represent not just scale, but momentum – as we continue to turn opportunities into action. Our enduring partnership with UPC Renewables has been instrumental in enabling disciplined capital deployment across high-potential markets like India,” said Patrice Clausse, ACEN International CEO and group chief investment officer.

The 420 MW solar farm, located in the high-irradiance Barmer region of Rajasthan, is projected to produce 767 GWh annually. Meanwhile, the 120 MW wind facility in Karnataka will tap into strong monsoonal winds and favorable terrain to deliver 391 GWh yearly.

The projects are also expected to create over 1,500 green jobs during the construction phase, reinforcing their role in boosting local economic development.

Brian Caffyn, chairman and group CEO of UPC Renewables, emphasized the significance of the initiative as part of their long-term strategy in Asia-Pacific. 

“Since 1994, UPC has been at the forefront of delivering renewable energy projects across multiple jurisdictions. The commencement of these new projects marks another important milestone in our expansion across Asia-Pacific, reinforcing our commitment to scalable and sustainable energy solutions.”

Alok Nigam, CEO of UPC Renewables India, said the construction marks the beginning of a second growth phase for the company’s platform in the country, with more than 1 GWp of renewable energy projects in the pipeline.

The projects add to the growing India portfolio of ACEN and UPC Renewables, which already includes the operational 420 MW Masaya Solar, 70 MW Paryapt Solar, and 140 MW Sitara Solar.

With over 4,800 MW of attributable capacity across the Philippines, Australia, Vietnam, Indonesia, and India, ACEN aims to hit its goal of 20 GW of renewables by 2030, underscoring its commitment to energy transition and global climate action.