ABOITIZ Power Corp. through its Therma Power Inc.’s wholly-owned subsidiary East Asia Utilities Corp. (EAUC), is building a 30 megawatts (MW) hybrid Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project within the Mactan Economic Zone.
The project is targeted for commissioning by the first half of 2026 and set to be one of the first large-scale energy storage systems in Central Visayas, the company said in a statement on Monday.
Aboitiz Power did not reveal the cost of the project but said it is expected to help improve the reliability of the power supply amid rising demand from industries, businesses, and new locators within the economic zone.
The company added that the hybrid BESS also serves as a back-up power, storing surplus electricity to be released to the power grid when demand needs to be supplemented, helping maintain grid quality and reliability.
“This project will allow us to respond to imbalances in real-time, helping the grid absorb fluctuations and minimize disruptions,” according to Aldo Ramos, Aboitiz Power Transition Business Group chief operating officer for operated assets.
“EAUC has consistently proven its ability to provide crucial ancillary reserves to the Luzon and Visayas grid when needed. The integration of BESS with our existing facility will materially enhance this capability, enabling faster and more efficient responses,” he added.
Ramos said the project will help strengthen investment and support the country’s economic goals especially since the EAUC hybrid BESS was one of the projects approved by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) in January 2025.
“Investors heavily consider the reliability of power supply, and so we work to efficiently facilitate these innovative energy initiatives to support residing businesses and encourage more investments in the Mactan Economic Zone,” PEZA Director General Tereso Panga said.
The hybrid BESS project is designed for high availability, capable of operating through maintenance cycles to maintain consistent grid support, Aboitiz Power added.
The company said hybrid battery facilities offer rapid ramp-up and response times, enabling them to address grid imbalances within seconds apart.
Aboitiz Power has set a capital expenditure budget of P78.1 billion for this year.
Aboitiz Power as an entire group plans to add 3,600 MW of new RE capacity to have a total of 4,600 MW worth of RE by 2030.
This will be paired with thermal power plants to support the country’s baseload and peak energy demand, and subsequently achieve a total portfolio of 9,200 MW by 2030.
