Aboitiz Power Corporation, through its unit Therma Marine Inc. (TMI), has started work on a new hybrid energy storage system in the Philippines. The 48-megawatt (MW) Nasipit Hybrid Energy Storage System (BESS) is located in Agusan del Norte.
The BESS will be connected to TMI’s existing oil-fired power plant called TMI Mobile 2. This system is expected to be operational by the second quarter of 2026. It will support the local power grid by helping manage electricity supply and demand. The battery can store excess electricity and release it when needed.
This is the second hybrid battery energy storage system project for TMI. The first one was installed at TMI Mobile 1 in Maco, Davao de Oro. That project started operations in 2022.
These storage systems are being introduced to help balance power in the grid as more renewable energy, like solar and wind, is added. Renewable sources can sometimes produce more or less electricity depending on weather conditions. A battery can help smooth out these ups and downs.
In other parts of the Philippines, smaller projects are also exploring storage and renewable energy options. In Mindoro, trial solar-powered water pumps have been installed in rural farming areas. These provide water for irrigation without relying on diesel generators.
In Palawan, a microgrid project is using solar panels and batteries to supply electricity to off-grid communities. The installed capacity there is around 1.5 MW of solar with 2.4 megawatt-hours (MWh) of storage. This provides power to several hundred households in remote villages.
In Tawi-Tawi, small wind-solar hybrid systems are being piloted on island schools. Each system has a solar capacity of 5 kilowatts (kW), backed by small battery units and a micro wind turbine to keep classroom lights and computers running.
