Norwegian firm Scatec ASA is looking to expand its renewable energy (RE) investments in the Philippines, including solar, wind, and battery energy storage system (BESS) installations. 

Scatec General Manager for Southeast Asia Torbjorn Kirkeby-Garstad said that his firm is looking to invest large amounts of money into the said technologies.

For wind projects, Scatec is looking at offshore wind installations which they believe is a “game-changer” for large-scale renewable projects in the Philippines.

Globally, Scatec is looking to create 15 gigawatts of renewables by 2025. 

Scatec is the joint venture partner of Aboitiz Power Corporation in the SN Aboitiz Power (SNAP) group. 

SNAP recently broke ground for the 20-megawatt (MW) BESS at its Magat Hydroelectric Power Plant on the boundary of Isabela and Ifugao. The project is expandable up to 24MW.

Primarily set for ancillary services (AS), the Magat BESS looks to balance the Luzon Grid’s reliability by storing energy to use at a later time, while strengthening the company’s operations and supporting a low carbon environment. 

Commercial operations for the Magat BESS project are slated for the first quarter of 2024. 

SNAP President and CEO Joseph Yu said that battery solutions are important in stabilizing the grid and allowing the entry of more RE. 

Among those who graced the ceremony were Energy Sec. Alfonso Cusi, Norwegian Ambassador to the Philippines Bjorn Jahnsen, and Isabela Gov. Rodolfo Albano III.

SNAP earlier tapped Japanese firm Hitachi Energy as the engineering, procurement, and construction contractor for the BESS project. AboitizPower announced last year that it is investing Php190 billion to up its RE portfolio to half of its total capacity by 2030.

Republic Act 9136 or the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA), defines AS or reserve power as “services that are necessary to support the transmission of capacity and energy from resources to loads while maintaining reliable operation of the transmission system in accordance with good utility practice and the Grid Code.”