San Miguel unit opens battery energy storage in Bataan
By Alena Mae S. Flores – March 31, 2023, 8:15 pm
from manilastandard.net
LIMAY, Bataan—San Miguel Global Power Holdings Corp. expects to complete 1,000 megawatt-hours of combined battery energy storage system facilities this year, making it one of the largest operators of BESS systems in the world.
San Miguel president Ramon Ang said BESS could have a transformative impact on the economy and the power sector, as he welcomed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during the inauguration ceremonies.
The company inaugurated a 50-MWh BESS project in this town as a part of its plan to open 32 facilities with a combined capacity of 1,000 MWh this year.
“It is the first of its kind in the Philippines, and one of the largest integrated grid-scale battery energy storage projects in the world… Strategically located in various parts of the country, our BESS facilities can instantly increase peak system supply to meet our growing energy demands post pandemic,” Ang said.
He said that with BESS providing a significant portion of peak supply, baseload plants could run continuously and operate more efficiently, resulting in lower electricity costs for Filipino consumers.
“Equally important, our facilities can support the integration of over 5,000 MW of renewable power sources into the grid. They can store excess energy from traditional and renewable sources during periods of low demand and release it back into the grid when demand increases,” Ang said.
SMC’s Masinloc power facility pioneered the BESS technology, which enables the storage of energy both from renewable and non- renewable sources, in 2016.
Ang said building 5,000 MWh of BESS facilities with other industry players would support the country’s peak supply requirements and achieve energy security in the coming years. He said this could also bring down power costs by as much as P3 per kilowatt-hour. With Vince Lopez
“We need to make sure that everyone, regardless of location or socio-economic status, will have access to reliable and affordable electricity as part of the legacy of the Marcos administration,” Ang said.
Ang pushed for BESS as one of the solutions to the looming power crisis, saying it could bridge the energy security gap by storing excess energy when it is available and releasing it when demand is high.
“Government is working to avert a power crisis. But we know it takes time to complete new power facilities. The BESS network is already here, and it can provide immediate mitigation to the power crisis,” Ang said.
