AES breaks ground for new facility

MANILA, Philippines - AES Philippines, the local unit of American energy giant AES Corp., has  broken ground on its battery-based energy storage facility at Masinloc in Zambales, which will provide 10 megawatts (MW) of interconnected capacity and enhance the reliability of the Luzon grid.

In a statement, the company said the groundbreaking ceremony was held last Dec. 15, led by AES Asia Strategic Business Unit president Marty Crotty and AES Philippines Managing Director Neeraj Bhat.

The Masinloc Array will use the Advancion® energy storage solution and is expected to be completed by mid-2016.

It will be one of the first advanced energy storage installations in South East Asia and among the largest in Asia.

“AES is pleased to bring this pioneering technology and application to the Philippines. Battery-based energy storage will play a critical role in tomorrow’s grid, helping to improve stability, lower total system costs, and incorporate higher volumes of renewable energy projects.  We look forward to working with key stakeholders to demonstrate the value and capabilities of this technology,” Bhat said.

The advanced energy storage project at Masinloc will strengthen the Luzon grid by providing fast response ancillary services like frequency regulation.

“Our province is proud to be setting for the development of the first battery-based energy storage in the country. Its development will not only secure quality energy services for the people of Zambales and the rest of Luzon, but also contribute to the continued development of the province,” Zambales Provincial Governor Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. said.

Aside from the Masinloc project, AES is actively developing other energy storage facilities in the Philippines, including one in Kabankalan, Negros Occidental.

According to Bhat, the Kabankalan project will improve the Visayas grid’s ability to incorporate the significant volume of solar power coming on-line in the region in early 2016.