SNAP targets Magat BESS completion by H1

MANILA, Philippines — Renewable energy solutions provider SN Aboitiz Power Group (SNAP), a joint venture between Aboitiz Power Corp. and Norwegian firm Scatec, is looking to complete construction of its battery energy storage system (BESS) in Isabela by the first half of next year, with commercial operations seen to commence a year after.

The BESS project at SNAP’s Magat hydroelectric power plant in Ramon, Isabela  has a capacity of 24 megawatts (MW) and 32 megawatt hours to be used primarily for ancillary services, according to SNAP vice president and chief business development officer Jason Soberano said.

While its completion is set within the first half of 2023, the project will start commercial operations by the first semester of 2024.

“To clarify, the time between project completion and commercial operation is for commissioning, testing, and certification with the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP),” Soberano said.

“We’re working on some requirements with NGCP, just making sure that we’ll be able to connect and that it’s going to go smoothly. But we are pretty optimistic,” he said.

However, Soberano said SNAP is also currently being cognizant of potential risks.

“There might be supply chain risks because of the war and even the upcoming recession of China. So we’re just being prepared for all the eventualities that might happen. But so far we’re okay,” he said.

SNAP broke ground for the Magat BESS project last April.

It earlier signed an engineering, procurement and construction agreement with Hitachi Energy, while it tapped the Bank of the Philippine Islands and China Banking Corp. to provide financing for the development of the project.

Early-phase activities for the Magat BESS project were finished last year as part of the pre-construction stage, which include site surveys and basic engineering design.

The project aims to balance the grid’s reliability, enable energy storing for use at a later time, strengthen SNAP Magat’s operations, and support a low carbon environment.

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.

Soberano said SNAP is a also eyeing to put up batteries in its existing facilities.

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.