A set of battery energy storage system (BESS) projects co-located with hydropower plants in the Philippines has reached financial close and is moving towards construction, adding to the country’s growing fleet of storage assets providing grid support services.
Scatec announced that its joint venture SN Aboitiz Power (SNAP) with Aboitiz Power Corporation has reached financial close for two 40 MW battery projects at the Binga (second phase) and Ambuklao hydropower plants in Benguet. Construction preparations are now underway.
The battery systems will be co-located with the existing hydro facilities and are expected to generate revenues from the reserves market. The projects follow earlier battery installations at SNAP-operated hydro plants, including a 24 MW BESS at the Magat hydropower plant that has been operating in the ancillary services market since 2024.
SNAP also has additional battery capacity under construction at the Binga and Magat sites scheduled to enter commercial operation later this year. With the new projects, total BESS capacity in construction and operation through SNAP in the Philippines is reported to be 160 MW.
According to the project partners, batteries are well suited to ancillary services because of their fast response times, their ability to provide multiple grid services and their operational flexibility. Ancillary services are expected to become increasingly important in the Philippines as variable renewable energy penetration rises.
