Saudi firm Acwa leases Clark site for solar facility

THE Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) said Acwa Power Philippines is leasing 500 hectares in New Clark City to build a solar facility that is targeted at serving data centers and other advanced industries expected to rise in the area.

Acwa Power, a unit of Saudi Arabia’s largest water desalination company, plans to develop an integrated utility-scale solar photovoltaic and battery energy storage system, the BCDA said in a statement on Wednesday.

The project will involve an initial investment of at least $400,000 per megawatt (MW), with a capacity of up to 500 MW upon full build-out, it said.

BCDA President and Chief Executive Officer Joshua M. Bingcang said Acwa’s plans will help the Philippines accelerate renewable energy (RE) adoption and attract high-value tenants that require clean power to New Clark City.

“Anchoring Acwa inside New Clark City is a defining moment for the estate. It tells global investors that this is where the Philippines’ next wave of sustainable infrastructure gets built,” Mr. Bingcang said.

RE accounted for 25% of the Philippines’ power generation mix in 2025, with the government targeting 35% and 40% by 2030 and 2040, respectively.  

Parent Acwa Power Co. is listed in Saudi Arabia. It is part of a group that is the world’s largest private water desalination company.

The lease also marks the Acwa’s first land agreement with a Philippine government agency, as the company seeks to expand its footprint in Southeast Asia. — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz