AC Energy boosting renewable capacity

MANILA, Philippines — AC Energy Inc. is increasing its renewable energy capacity to 1,200 megawatts (MW).

The company and its partner AMI Renewables are now working on the 210-MW Quang Binh Wind Farm, located in the coastal area of the Quang Binh province.

AC Energy said the wind farm is in line with efforts to sustain its growth momentum and expand its generation capacity in the Asia-Pacific. This also brings AC Energy’s total renewables capacity to 1,200 MW.

“We are excited to embark on what would be the largest wind project for Vietnam, as well as for AC Energy,” company president and chief executive officer Eric Francia said.

“We continue to transition to a low carbon portfolio, and work towards our goal of reaching 5,000 MW of renewables capacity by 2025,” he said.

The project has two phases consisting of 109.2 MW and 100.8 MW, with firm orders already having been issued to the wind turbine supplier for both phases.

Both phases are set be commissioned in the third quarter of 2021 to qualify for the current round for wind feed-in-tariff of 8.5 US cents per kilowatt-hour (kwh).

The project will utilize wind turbines from Vestas, who will supply, transport, install and commission a total of 50 V150-4.2 MW wind turbines at a hub-height of 145 meters to optimize the wind energy production.

For its part, AC Energy will provide all the construction capital required for the project.

With several favorable conditions in Vietnam that ease the acceleration of clean energy development, AC Energy International chief operating officer Patrice Clausse said the company intends to play a significant role in aiding Vietnam’s surge in power demand.

“As an ideal place for investing in renewable energy, with its ripe market for wind power and notable GDP growth, AC Energy sees Vietnam as a key market as it aims to be the one of the largest listed renewables platforms in Southeast Asia,” he said.

In April 2019, AC Energy and AMI Renewables switched on two solar plants, namely the 50-MW Khanh Hoa and the 30-MW Dak Lak solar farms.

Their joint venture company, AMI AC Renewables targets to develop and operate a renewable energy platform in Vietnam with a total capacity of 1,000 MW by 2025.

AC Energy has committed to scale up its renewable energy expansion in the region and has identified the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Australia, India and Myanmar as key target markets.