SNAP to build 3 battery energy storage systems

By Alena Mae S. Flores – December 12, 2023, 8:25 pm
from manilastandard.net

SNAP president and chief executive Joseph Yu

SN Aboitiz Power Group (SNAP) plans to put up another three battery energy storage system (BESS) projects with a combined capacity of 100 megawatts (MW).

SNAP, a joint venture of Scatec of Norway and Aboitiz Power Corp., is expanding its project pipeline to include complementary technologies such as BESS.

“We have three more projects, [with] almost 100 MW between Magat and Benguet that we hope to bring to a final investment decision in 2024,” SNAP president and chief executive Joseph Yu said.

He said the BESS projects are undergoing design and feasibility study.

SNAP broke ground for its 24-MW Magat BESS project co-located in the Magat hydropower complex in Ramon, Isabela last year.

Yu said the Magat BESS was expected to be completed this month.

“We’re just waiting for the COC (certificates of compliance). Hopefully, the regulators will cooperate with us and have it ready for the reserve market for Dec. 26,” he said.

He said the Magat BESS was estimated to cost around P1.2 billion to construct.

“The rule of thumb is $800,000 to $1 million per MW, but we’re looking for ways to optimize it and reduce the cost. We have a very good team working on it, and I’m very optimistic that they should be able to come up with something interesting,” Yu said.

SNAP owns and operates the 105-megawatt (MW) Ambuklao and the 140-MW Binga hydroelectric power plants in Benguet; the 388-MW Magat hydroelectric power plant on the borders of Isabela and Ifugao; and the 8.5-MW Maris hydroelectric power plant in Isabela.

SNAP signed a memorandum of understanding with the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) to conduct a feasibility study for the Alimit multipurpose project in Ifugao province.