ACCIONA Energía has officially commenced construction on the Daanbantayan solar plant, a 176 MWp facility located on the island of Cebu, Philippines. The groundbreaking ceremony took place yesterday and was attended by several high-ranking officials, including Cebu Governor Gwendolyn García Fiel, Spanish Ambassador to the Philippines Miguel Utray, Daanbantayan Mayor Sun Shimura, ACCIONA Chairman José Manuel Entrecanales, and ACCIONA Energía’s Chief Financial and Sustainability Officer José Entrecanales, among other authorities. The event marked a significant milestone in the company’s renewable energy expansion in the region.

Situated in the municipality of Daanbantayan, at the northernmost part of Cebu, the project represents an investment of approximately €120 million. It is expected to begin operations by late 2026 and will generate an estimated 280GWh per year, which is sufficient to meet the electricity needs of more than 300,000 people. To enhance efficiency and reliability, the solar plant will also include a battery storage system that will allow energy to be stored and released during peak demand periods, thereby stabilizing the local power grid. In a landmark move for the Philippines’ energy sector, ACCIONA Energía and the provincial government of Cebu have signed the country’s first public-private partnership (PPP) for power distribution, reinforcing their commitment to a sustainable energy future.

The Daanbantayan solar plant aligns with the Philippine government’s renewable energy targets, which aim to increase the share of clean energy in the national grid to 35% by 2030 and 50% by 2050. The project is also expected to contribute to the country’s broader objectives of ensuring energy security and fostering sustainable and inclusive economic growth. By combining solar power generation with energy storage technology, ACCIONA Energía is demonstrating how renewable energy projects can play a crucial role in both environmental conservation and economic development.

This solar plant is ACCIONA Energía’s first photovoltaic project in the Philippines and the largest under construction in the Visayas region. The company is also expanding its footprint in the country’s renewable energy sector with other projects, including the 100 MW Kalayaan 2 Wind Farm in Laguna province and a 156 MW wind farm in Pantabangan, located 150 kilometers north of Manila. Beyond energy, ACCIONA has maintained a strong presence in the Philippines since 2016 through its Water and Infrastructure divisions, having completed major projects such as the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX) and the Putatan II and Laguna Lake water treatment plants.

In addition to its infrastructure projects, ACCIONA is committed to supporting underserved communities in the Philippines through its social impact initiatives. The acciona.org foundation began its work in the country in 2021, focusing on bringing basic electricity access to remote areas with no connection to the conventional power grid. Through collaborations with the Ayala Foundation and the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation and Development, the initiative has already provided electricity to 2,600 households, small businesses, and community centers. By addressing energy accessibility challenges, ACCIONA continues to contribute to the country’s long-term sustainable development while reinforcing its role as a key player in the renewable energy transition.