Acciona Energia Global, a leading renewable energy producer, started the construction of a P7.5-billion solar project in Daanbantayan, Cebu, following a groundbreaking ceremony on March 16, 2025.
“This is Acciona Energia’s first project in the Philippines and the largest under construction in the Visayas. It aligns with the government’s goal of increasing the share of renewables in the energy mix while ensuring energy security and sustainable growth,” said Acciona chairman and chief executive José Manuel Entrecanales Domecq during the ceremony.
The 150-megawatt (MW) Daanbantayan Solar Plant is a priority project under the Board of Investment’s (BOI) Green Lane program, which streamlines approvals for strategic investments.
The BOI granted its green lane certificate on Aug. 1, 2024, with expectations that the project will lower electricity costs in Cebu and contribute significantly to the region’s energy security.
Unlike Metro Manila, Cebu lagged in renewable energy adoption, making the project a crucial step toward a greener future.
Once operational by 2026, the solar plant will generate 280 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of clean energy annually, enough to power 300,000 people or about 50,000 to 60,000 households, while preventing about 259,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions each year.
The facility will include a battery storage system and peak at 176 MW capacity.
Strategically located less than a kilometer from the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) Talisay substation, the 187-hectare facility will enhance power distribution across the Visayas grid.