Capiz launches first battery energy storage system

By Felipe V. Celino

PANITAN, Capiz — Capiz launched its first battery energy storage system on Thursday, July 23, in Barangay Timpas, Panitan, in a move expected to improve power reliability across the province and the Panay subgrid.

The mechanical completion ceremony marked a major construction milestone for the 20-megawatt, 40-megawatt-hour Panitan Battery Energy Storage System, or BESS.

The facility is designed to store electricity and release it when demand increases or when power plants and the transmission network encounter problems.

Capiz Gov. Fredenil Oto Castro led the ceremony alongside representatives of government agencies and private-sector groups that supported the project.

EcoSolar Energy Corp., a subsidiary of PetroGreen Energy Corp. and Kyuden International, spearheaded the development.

The BESS will function as a large-scale “power bank” that can rapidly supply electricity to the grid when additional power is needed.

The facility is expected to strengthen the Panay subgrid and help reduce the likelihood of yellow alerts, red alerts and power interruptions.

Capiz Electric Cooperative General Manager Edgar Diaz said the province requires 62 megawatt-hours of electricity daily.

Diaz said the Panitan BESS would add 20 megawatts of capacity to help maintain sufficient power supply in the province.

Battery energy storage systems can respond more quickly than conventional generating facilities, making them useful for balancing sudden changes in electricity demand and supply.

The systems can also store excess power from renewable energy facilities and discharge it when solar or wind generation declines.

Department of Energy Undersecretary Mario C. Marasigan attended the launching.

Other officials present were Castro, Panitan Mayor Kit Dequiña-Belo and Vice Mayor Audie Lopez Advincula.

EcoSolar Energy Corp. President Francisco G. Delfin Jr. and Vice President Maria Victoria M. Olivar also joined the ceremony with other national and local officials.

Delfin described the project as an important initiative to reinforce the province’s power supply.

He said the next stage would involve testing and commissioning, which the company expects to complete before the end of 2026.

“It hopes to ease power instability and short faults, by bringing quick response to the new demand of power grid reducing power interruption, and at the same time would serve during emergency situations”, he added.

Delfin said the system would initially support the development of the 98.8-megawatt Panitan Solar Power Project.

The solar development is expected to generate additional employment, investment and economic opportunities in Capiz.

Delfin said the energy investment would help strengthen the province’s power infrastructure, improve electricity supply and support economic growth over the next 17 years.

The Panitan facility also supports efforts to integrate more renewable energy into the grid by providing backup capacity when electricity generation fluctuates.

Its completion comes as Panay continues to address power supply constraints and grid stability concerns that have previously resulted in electricity interruptions across the island.