Renewable energy company SN AboitizPower (SNAP) is looking to construct a US$28 million 20-megawatt battery energy storage system (BESS) facility in its Magat Hydro Electric Power Plant (HEPP) by 2020. The facility will be used to boost SNAP’s ancillary services and standby power supply that can be tapped in case the regular supply falls short of the requirement. SNAP’s Board of Directors recently approved the conduct of the feasibility study in 2019 for BESS in Magat. Construction is set to start in 2020, with target operationalization by 2022 once the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines approves the facility’s Ancillary Services Procurement Agreement.

“You can think of battery energy storage as a giant power bank,” explains SNAP Group President and CEO Joseph Yu. “With BESS, we will have a battery facility that is connected to the grid where we can withdraw power from when necessary.”

The Energy Regulatory Commission classified BESS as a new source of frequency control ancillary services.

Ancillary services are meant to support the transmission of capacity and energy from resources to loads, while maintaining reliable operation of the transmission system. These services are indispensable in ensuring the reliability of transmission systems, and in securing electricity supply in the country’s power grids. SNAP is a joint venture between SN Power of Norway and AboitizPower. It owns and operates the 360- to 380-MW Magat hydro on the border of Isabela and Ifugao; the 8.5-MW Maris hydro in Isabela; the 105-MW Ambuklao hydro in Benguet; and the 140-MW Binga hydro also in Benguet.