SNAP plans to build $28-M Magat facility

SN AboitizPower (SNAP) plans to build a $28-million, 20-megawatt battery energy storage system (BESS) facility in its Magat Hydro Electric Power Plant by 2020.

SNAP said in a statement the company’s board had approved the conduct of a feasibility study in 2019, with construction set to start in 2020 and operations targeted for 2022.

Joseph Yu, SNAP president and chief executive, said the facility would be used to boost SNAP’s ancillary services and standby power supply, which can be tapped in case regular supply falls short of the requirement.

Operationalization of the BESS facility depends on the approval by National Grid Corp. of the Philippines of the facility’s ancillary services procurement agreement.

Ancillary services are meant to support the transmission of capacity and energy from resources to loads, while maintaining reliable operation of the transmission system.

These services are indispensable in ensuring the reliability of transmission systems, and in securing electricity supply in the country’s power grids.

“You can think of battery energy storage as a giant power bank,” Yu said. “With BESS, we will have a battery facility that is connected to the grid where we can withdraw power from when necessary.”

A joint venture between SN Power of Norway and AboitizPower, SNAP owns and operates the 360- to 380-MW Magat hydro facility that straddles Isabela and Ifugao.

It also owns and operates the 8.5-MW Maris hydro in Isabela as well as the 105-MW Ambuklao hydro and 140-MW Binga hydro in Benguet.

Earlier, the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) approved SNAP’s proposal to install a 200-kilowatt floating solar project in the Magat reservoir.

This pilot project will be placed over a 2,500-square meter area over the Magat reservoir, and will focus on providing internal power to SNAP’s facilities in the area.

For this pilot project, SNAP will conduct a stress test to ensure that the facility works through incidences of massive inflows and strong typhoons.

“We have always viewed ourselves as a renewable energy company—not just a hydro power producer,” Yu said.