SN Aboitiz Power-Magat, Inc. plans to increase the capacity of the Magat Hydroelectric Power Plant by 20 megawatts (MW), raising the facility’s output from 360MW to 380 MW as part of a broader modernization of one of the country’s key renewable energy assets.

The proposed uprating, disclosed in a notice of public scoping issued by the Environmental Management Bureau, will enhance the generating capability of the Magat hydro plant located in Ramon, Isabela and Alfonso Lista, Ifugao. The project also includes the development of a 97-MW Magat Pumped-Storage Hydropower Project.

The Magat plant is one of the largest hydroelectric facilities in the country and plays a crucial role in supplying renewable baseload and peaking power to the Luzon grid. A 20-MW increase would provide additional electricity equivalent to the capacity of a utility-scale solar farm, while maintaining hydro’s ability to respond quickly to fluctuations in electricity demand.

The inclusion of a 97-MW pumped-storage component further strengthens the project’s strategic value. Pumped-storage facilities act as large-scale energy storage systems, allowing excess electricity to be stored and dispatched when needed. This capability is increasingly important as more variable renewable energy sources such as solar and wind are integrated into the grid.

SN Aboitiz Power-Magat, Inc. is a subsidiary of SN Aboitiz Power Group, the joint venture between Aboitiz Power Corporation and Norway-based Scatec ASA (formerly SN Power), which owns and operates the Magat and Ambuklao-Binga hydro complexes.

Once completed, the Magat uprating and pumped-storage development would reinforce hydropower’s role in balancing the grid and support the Philippines’ push for greater energy security and renewable integration.

What are your thoughts on SN Aboitiz Power’s plan to expand Magat’s capacity and add pumped-storage capability? Could this accelerate the country’s transition to a more flexible and resilient renewable energy system?