MGen to build 49-MW battery energy storage in Cebu
The power generation unit of Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) is constructing its second battery energy storage system (BESS) in the country.
In a statement on Monday, July 22, Meralco PowerGen Corp. (MGen) said it will develop a 49-megawatt (MW) stand-alone battery energy storage system (BESS) in Toledo, Cebu, to address the growing renewable energy (RE) share in the region.
Anticipated to help provide reliable and balanced power delivery in the Visayas grid, the first phase of the Toledo BESS project is scheduled for completion by 2026 and will have an initial 25 MW capacity.
The remaining capacity will be finished by 2027 and will be subject to regulatory approvals.
Emmanuel Rubio, president and chief executive officer (CEO) of MGen, believes that the Toledo project would reflect the company’s plans to improve grid reliability, especially as battery energy storage plays a key role in managing system reliability.
“Battery energy storage will be critical in managing variability in supply and demand, particularly as we integrate more RE into the system,” he said.
Prior to this project, MGen’s first BESS development is the 3,300 megawatt-hour (MWh) BESS to be integrated with the 1,400 MW-peak (MWp) Terra solar project.
Slated to be the world’s largest contiguous solar and battery power plant, this BESS project has partnered with China Energy Engineering Group Co. Ltd. for engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC).