The Department of Energy (DOE) said that the Philippines is exploring innovative solutions to optimize renewable energy integration and reduce costs, with Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) emerging as a key technology gaining momentum.
At the World Clean Energy Conference, the DOE said that utilizing solar power with battery storage offers a path to more cost-effective energy solutions, allowing consumers to reduce their energy expenses by 15 to 20% through self-generation.
“You save around 15 to 20% of the cost if you build your own generating facility. And if the generating facility is solar powered by battery, in the long run, it’s more competitive because it’s comparable to a diesel gen set,” said DOE Undersecretary Felix Fuentebella.
Fuentebella added that relying on diesel generators exposes customers to price volatility, in addition to the taxes levied on fuel.
Meanwhile, Practical Business Ventures Corporation managing director Winnie Castro said that the Green Energy Auction 4 has opened opportunities for the entry of energy storage systems into the game.
“It opens a lot of opportunity not only on the capacity that we need to inject and integrate but also with the competitive cost already, now that the cost of the battery is already significantly reducing in terms of investment costs. So it is really high time that in terms of price and the requirements of the grid, there’s really a very good opportunity for this technology to come in,” said Castro.
The GEA-4, slated for the latter part of this year, would cover the Integrated Renewable Energy and Energy Storage System (IRESS).
DOE described IRESS as an all-encompassing energy solution that integrates renewable energy technologies with energy storage systems (ESS).
This combination enables renewable energy plants to enhance efficiency by storing surplus energy during peak production times and deploying it during high-demand periods, thereby reducing dependency on grid capacity.
