Renewable energy provider SN Aboitiz Power Group (SNAP) broke ground on the second phase of its Magat Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) facility at the Magat hydroelectric power plant in Ramon, Isabela, on Feb. 20, 2025.
The 16-megawatt (MW) Magat BESS Phase 2 will integrate with the existing 24-MW Magat BESS 1, which began commercial operations in January 2024. Once completed, the combined 40-MW facility will function as a single system, providing ancillary services such as regulating and contingency reserves to enhance grid efficiency and reliability.
Magat BESS Phase 2 is part of SNAP’s second wave of BESS projects this year, with additional capacities set for construction in the coming months.
“New technology and technological solutions are paramount to the energy transition, aligning with our common ambition for renewable energy and green growth,” Norwegian Ambassador to the Philippines Christian Halaas Lyster said in his keynote speech. “Norway has years of expertise in renewable energy, and we are committed to being part of the solution at national, regional, and global levels toward a green energy transition.”
In a video message, Department of Energy Secretary Raphael P.M. Lotilla expressed appreciation for SNAP’s role in advancing clean energy technologies. “Today, we are not just building infrastructure, we are laying the foundation for a more sustainable and energy-secure future. This initiative’s impact extends beyond the present—it is a legacy that will benefit generations of Filipinos,” he said.
Earlier this week, SNAP signed engineering, procurement, and construction agreements with GEDI China Energy, a subsidiary of China Energy Engineering Group, for the development of the 40-MW Binga BESS facility at the Binga hydroelectric power plant in Itogon, Benguet. Together, the Magat BESS Phase 2 and Binga BESS mark key milestones in SNAP’s efforts to expand energy storage capacity.
At the same event, SNAP unveiled its Integrated Remote Operations Center (iROC) at the Magat hydropower complex. The iROC enhances efficiency by providing real-time, centralized monitoring and control of SNAP’s five facilities in Isabela and Benguet. Designed to optimize plant operations, improve response times, and ensure seamless coordination, the iROC is a major step in SNAP’s digital transformation.
“These initiatives reflect our commitment to providing innovative and sustainable energy solutions,” said SNAP President and CEO Joseph Yu. “With an additional 56 MW of BESS projects across our plants and the launch of our integrated remote operations center, we are not only increasing the energy supply but also enhancing energy security and grid stability in line with our long-term sustainability goals.”
Construction of SNAP’s BESS projects is set to begin in the first half of 2025, with commercial operations targeted for the first half of 2026. The Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) and China Banking Corp. will finance the Magat BESS Phase 2, while BPI and BDO Unibank will fund the 40-MW Binga BESS.