By Nycel Jane Dela
A battery energy storage system (BESS) in the Municipality of Panitan is among the facilities being fast-tracked by the Department of Energy (DOE) to help solve the power problem in Panay Island that is experiencing brownouts on a daily basis.
This is according to Reagan Alcantara, public relations lead specialist of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) in the Visayas.
To recall, the P1.25-billion Panitan Energy Storage Project (PESP) finished its mechanical completion last July and is being prepared for commercial operation.
EcoSolar Energy Corp. (ESEC) of the Yuchengo group can store at least 40-megawatt (40-MW) at its PESP, which is set to become the first BESS in Capiz.
Alcantara told The Capiz Times that the BESS of PESP is being targeted to be connected to the Visayas grid within this month or October.
Alcantara explained that BESS of PESP does not generate electricity, but stores energy and releases it when the grid needs support, functioning like a power bank during supply imbalances.
Alcantara said the Panitan facility is expected to help stabilize the Panay sub-grid and provide reserve support during shortages, including yellow and red alerts.
While there is no daily brownouts in Capiz, there has been brownouts in neighboring areas of Panay Island including Aklan and Iloilo. This is due to power plants shutting down and cannot provide energy for the Visayas.
Aside from the BESS of PESP, there’s also a BESS facility being prepared in Dingle, Iloilo.
But Alcantara cautioned that testing is still needed to be done to prevent unnecessary instability to the sub-grid.
BESS is also being prepared in the islands of Cebu, Negros and Leyte to improve reliability across the Visayas.
Meanwhile, the PESP is also being planned as a 90-MW solar power project in Panitan.
The PESP was facilitated by the Capiz Provincial Government as an investment program under the administration of Governor Fredenil “Oto” Castro. Specifically, the Provincial Economic Development and Investment Promotion Office (PEDIPO) headed by Rio Garcia partnered with ESEC. (Photo courtesy of Capiz Provincial Government Communications Group)
