MGEN switches on 2nd BESS facility

MANILA, Philippines — Meralco PowerGen Corp. (MGEN), the company behind what could be the world’s largest integrated solar farm, has activated its second battery energy storage system (BESS) project in the Philippines.

Located in Cebu, the MGEN Toledo BESS delivers 56.44 megawatt-hours (MWh) of storage capacity in Phase 1, with an additional same capacity set to come online in Phase 2.

The project, developed through MGEN subsidiary Toledo Energy Development Corp., is the first two-hour BESS facility in the Visayas. It is capable of delivering continuous rated output for two hours before recharging.

“The MGEN Toledo BESS is expected to play a critical role in supporting the stability of the Visayas grid and in advancing the energy transition,” MGEN Thermal president and CEO Felino Bernardo said.

“By helping manage fluctuations during peak and off-peak hours, the facility will contribute to maintaining reliable power delivery and improving overall grid resilience,” Bernardo added.

Aside from being a storage asset, the project is also designed to deliver critical ancillary services or backup power that help strengthen the stability of the country’s electrical superhighway.

The MGEN Toledo BESS utilizes advanced lithium-ion technology to store electricity sourced from both conventional and renewable energy sources through the spot market. This stored energy can then be dispatched rapidly whenever the grid requires additional capacity.

The company expects to complete the second phase of the project in June 2027, subject to regulatory approvals.

“Cebu is a key demand center in the Visayas and an important part of the MGEN portfolio,” MGEN president and CEO Emmanuel Rubio said.

“The energization of the Toledo BESS marks an important milestone for the Visayas grid and reflects MGEN’s continuing commitment to support a more reliable, resilient and sustainable energy system,” he said.

MGEN is the developer of the P200-billion MTerra Solar project straddling Nueva Ecija and Bulacan, which is poised to become the largest of its kind in the world upon full completion in 2027.

The project is equipped with a 4,500-MWh BESS component to support a 3,500-MW-peak solar farm.