SNAP to build 100 MW battery storage project

MANILA, Philippines — SN Aboitiz Power Group (SNAP), a joint venture between Aboitiz Power Corp. and Norwegian firm Scatec, is eyeing to bolster its battery energy storage system (BESS) portfolio with potential investments of at least $80 million for three more projects.

“We have several projects in the pipeline. We have three more battery storage systems that we’re working on,” SNAP Group president and CEO Joseph Yu said.

Yu said the three planned new BESS projects will have a capacity of 100 megawatts (MW) and will be located within SNAP’s facilities in Isabela and Benguet.

He said design works and feasibility studies are ongoing for these projects.

“We hope to bring to a final investment decision in 2024. The rule of thumb is $800,000 to $1 million per megawatt (investment in BESS projects),” Yu said.

SNAP has been expanding its project pipeline to include complementary technologies such as BESS.

Last year, the renewable energy company broke ground on the 24-MW Magat BESS project co-located in the Magat hydropower complex in Ramon, Isabela.

“We finished testing of the 24-MW BESS in Magat. That’s done. We’re just waiting for the certificate of compliance. Hopefully, we will have it ready for the reserve market for Dec. 26. The goal is to provide ancillary services in the reserves market when it comes onstream,” Yu said.

BESS is a type of energy storage system that can store energy electrochemically and can be connected to the grid, small grid, distribution system or end-user facility to deliver the energy demand when needed.

Aside from the 388-MW Magat hydroelectric power plant on the border of Isabela and Ifugao, SNAP owns and operates the 105-MW Ambuklao and 140-MW Binga hydroelectric power plants in Benguet, and the 8.5-MW Maris hydroelectric power plant in Isabela.