Conferences for Emerging Markets and Technologies

Philippines’ Power Utility Aboitiz Commits P1.2 Billion to Hybrid BESS Project, Pioneers Renewable Energy Model for Asia in 2025

In a strategic move valued at approximately $21 million, Aboitiz Power is integrating BESS technology into its existing thermal plants, a model for clean energy that is being closely watched by national utilities as a blueprint for climate-resilient infrastructure.

5 months ago 2 min read

The groundbreaking for AboitizPower’s Nasipit Hybrid Energy Storage System marks a strategic step toward grid flexibility. The project combines thermal generation with battery storage – an emerging model for climate-resilient energy in Asia.

As Asia’s energy landscape undergoes rapid transformation, the integration of battery energy storage into thermal generation assets is gaining traction. Aboitiz Power Corporation, one of the Philippines’ major utilities, has launched a project that reflects this shift toward hybrid infrastructure.

The company is constructing a 30-megawatt hybrid Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in Cebu, in collaboration with East Asia Utilities Corporation. With an estimated investment of PHP 1.2 billion (around USD 21 million), the project has received approval from the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), emphasizing its role in strengthening energy reliability in the Visayas region.

Unlike standalone renewable energy ventures, this project retrofits an existing oil-fired power plant. The BESS installation will help stabilize the grid by storing surplus electricity during low-demand periods and releasing it rapidly during supply shortfalls. The system is expected to be operational by the first half of 2026.

Utilities across Asia are taking note. Malaysia’s Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) has allocated over RM 42.9 billion (approx. USD 9.8 billion) in capital expenditure for its energy transition, with a substantial portion aimed at infrastructure upgrades. In Vietnam, Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) is advancing a 50 MW pilot BESS project under the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) framework. Concurrently, the Vietnamese government is developing technical and regulatory standards for energy storage systems, as highlighted in a workshop jointly organized by the Commission for Standards, Metrology and Quality (STAMEQ) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Together, these developments point to a shared regional commitment to smarter, more flexible power systems – an important theme at the upcoming AI, Climate & Energy Summit Asia 2025.