Norwegian firm Scatec ASA has announced plan to expand its renewable energy investments in the Philippines, primarily on the sphere of solar, wind, hydro and battery energy storage system (BESS) installations.

During the groundbreaking rites of the 20-megawatt BESS project of SN Aboitiz Power (SNAP), a joint venture of Scatec and Aboitiz Power Corporation, Scatec General Manager for Southeast Asia Torbjorn Kirkeby-Garstad said “we are looking at investing large amounts of money into solar, floating solar, hydro, battery and wind.”

For wind ventures, in particular, he emphasized that one area they are interested in would be on offshore wind installations, “which we believe will be a game-changer when it comes to large-scale renewables here in the Philippines.”

Kirkeby-Garstad added “we aim to grow an amazing high number of 15 gigawatts by 2025 all over the world. And the Philippines is a very, very important market for us.”

Norwegian Ambassador to the Philippines Bjørn Jahnsen similarly noted that “RE is Norway’s most important area of collaboration,” with him qualifying that “Scatec, taking over from SN Power, represents Norway’s largest investment in hydropower outside of Norway, and probably Norway’s largest in Asia overall.”

The investment-entry point of Scatec (formerly SN Power) in the Philippine energy market was via its partnership with Aboitiz Power 15 years ago – and the main focus then had been the acquisition of the Ambuklao-Binga and Magat hydropower facilities when these were privatized by state-run Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation.

“For the past 15 years, Scatec has been at the forefront of solar developments and investments in the hydro markets. And today, we have been involved into a leading provider of solar, wind and with Magat, hydropower,” the Norwegian company executive stressed.

For the new BESS project that SNAP is pursuing to be integrated with its Magat hydropower facility in Isabela province, Kirkeby-Garstad highlighted that the venture “will be a great contributor to the ancillary services market here in the Philippines.” The BESS facility is targeted for commercial operations within first quarter of 2024.

Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi, who graced the groundbreaking ceremony for the BESS venture, asserted “what you are doing here is unprecedented in the energy industry...having integrated renewable power sources from solar and hydro, show how you maximize the use of resources efficiently.”

The energy chief pointed out BESS would be an important anchor to the Philippines’ quest for “energy security and reliability”, because that is the coupling technology that will cushion the impact of RE technologies’ intermittent generation.

And as the country advances into its energy transition agenda -- to be headlined by concretizing the targeted 35-percent share of RE in the power mix by 2040, Cusi conveyed “what the government is doing is to really encourage investment in the different sectors.”

According to SNAP President and CEO Joseph Yu, “there are new, innovative, and complementary technologies that will help facilitate the country’s energy transition. This is where SNAP can once again contribute. We are excited and optimistic about the new paths opens up for us.”

Rodolfo Indorte, managing director for Hitachi Energy Philippines, which is the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor for the SNAP BESS project, said “as the region propels towards economic growth, we see ourselves as partners in advancing a sustainable energy future for all.”