Aboitiz Power Corporation (AboitizPower), through its subsidiary East Asia Utilities Corporation (EAUC), is set to construct a 30-megawatt (MW) hybrid Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) within the Mactan Economic Zone, reinforcing efforts to improve grid reliability in the Visayas region.

Slated for commissioning in the first half of 2026, the facility is one of the first large-scale energy storage systems in Central Visayas. It aims to support rising power demand from industries and businesses in the area and enhance grid stability amid the energy transition.

“This project will allow us to respond to imbalances in real-time, helping the grid absorb fluctuations and minimize disruptions,” said Aldo Ramos, Chief Operating Officer for Operated Assets of AboitizPower’s Transition Business Group.

Ramos added, “EAUC has consistently proven its ability to provide crucial ancillary reserves to the Luzon and Visayas grid when needed. The integration of BESS with our existing facility will materially enhance this capability, enabling faster and more efficient responses.”

 The project has received the approval of the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA). “Investors heavily consider the reliability of power supply, and so we work to efficiently facilitate these innovative energy initiatives to support residing businesses and encourage more investments in the Mactan Economic Zone,” said PEZA Director General Tereso Panga. “The EAUC hybrid BESS will help in the stability of the power supply, and more so as the share of variable renewable energy increases in our power mix.”

Hybrid battery facilities are designed for high availability and rapid response, capable of ramping up within seconds. Compared to thermal plants, they require lower operations and maintenance.

The Department of Energy forecasts that variable renewable energy will account for 16–28% of the country’s power mix by 2031. In this context, battery storage is seen as essential for balancing intermittent output from renewables like solar and wind.

The Visayas grid, supported by conventional plants such as Therma Visayas, Inc., continues to play a vital role in ensuring dispatchable capacity, even as more energy storage and renewable assets come online.

“Following BESS projects in Maco and Nasipit, AboitizPower continues to invest in a flexible energy portfolio, aligned with the goal of a balanced renewable and thermal energy mix , to support the country’s evolving power needs,” Ramos said.

What are your thoughts on BESS projects like this shaping the future of the Visayas power grid? Join the conversation. 

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