ACWA Power Partners with BCDA to Develop New Clark City Renewable Energy Hub

In January 2026, ACWA Power, a Saudi-based energy developer with an extensive portfolio in renewables and water infrastructure, and the Philippines’ Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) executed a reservation agreement to advance a large-scale renewable energy project in New Clark City, a planned smart and sustainable urban development north of Manila. The agreement was signed at the World Economic Forum in Davos, signaling international investor confidence in New Clark City’s energy strategy.

Project Scope and Technical Focus
The reservation agreement secures approximately 500 hectares within the New Clark City Special Economic Zone for a renewable energy complex centered on utility-scale solar photovoltaic generation. The partners are also exploring incorporation of a battery energy storage system (BESS) to enhance the operational profile of the solar generation. The inclusion of BESS is intended to enable extended dispatch of renewable energy beyond daylight hours and improve grid flexibility, differentiating this project from solar developments that rely solely on direct generation.

The arrangement follows a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed in late 2025 in Riyadh, under which technical site identification and preliminary assessment activities were undertaken. The reservation agreement represents a preparatory step toward a long-term lease and detailed project development, subject to future feasibility studies, site validation, and regulatory approvals.

Strategic Role in New Clark City’s Energy and Industrial Agenda
New Clark City is being developed as a climate-resilient economic hub, with emphasis on sustainable infrastructure and attracting energy-intensive, sustainability-oriented industries. Integrating large-scale renewable generation with storage aligns with the city’s objective of offering reliable, low-carbon power solutions, which can enhance its competitiveness relative to regions dependent on fossil fuel-dominated grids. By securing land early in the development cycle and aligning renewable infrastructure with urban planning, the project aims to underpin long-term investment and operational certainty in the city’s energy supply.

BCDA’s engagement with ACWA Power reflects an ongoing strategy of forming public-private partnerships to accelerate clean energy infrastructure deployment in emerging markets. The authority’s broader development agenda for New Clark City has included other renewable initiatives, such as smaller solar facilities and feasibility studies with local partners on microgrids and waste-to-energy technologies, illustrating a diversified approach to meeting energy demands sustainably.

Competitive Context and Market Position
ACWA Power’s participation in the Philippines builds on its global renewable portfolio and previous collaborative ventures in the region, including partnerships on solar projects with local utilities. Its emphasis on utility-scale solar combined with storage differentiates the company’s approach from developers focused solely on generation. In contrast to standalone photovoltaic installations, the integration of energy storage positions projects like this to contribute to grid stability and support industrial loads with more predictable power delivery profiles.

For BCDA, attracting a global developer with experience in large-scale renewables contributes to New Clark City’s positioning as a model for sustainable urban energy systems. The authority has simultaneously engaged with other clean energy partners to pursue diverse energy solutions, demonstrating a multi-pronged strategy to reduce carbon intensity, enhance local energy reliability, and support the city’s long-term economic growth.

Outlook
The New Clark City renewable energy project is at an early stage, with the reservation agreement marking a key milestone in land allocation and partnership formalization. Completion and commissioning timelines will depend on subsequent technical studies, permitting, and investment commitments. If fully realized, the project could serve as a template for integrating large-scale solar and storage within emerging smart city developments, offering a competitive edge by combining cost-effective clean energy supply with grid services and industrial load support.

www.acwapower.com