MGEN energizes Toledo BESS, boosting Visayas grid stability

Meralco PowerGen Corporation (MGEN) officially energized and switched on the MGEN Toledo Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) Project in Cebu, marking another major milestone in the company’s commitment to strengthening energy security, enhancing grid reliability, and supporting the country’s transition toward a more sustainable energy future.

This is the first 2-hour battery energy storage system facility in Visayas – designed to deliver its rated output continuously for two hours before requiring recharge.

The switch-on ceremony brought together key representatives from the Department of Energy (DOE), National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), Provincial Government of Cebu, the City of Toledo, the host site Carmen Copper Corporation, and project partners Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (CATL) and SUMEC Complete Equipment and Engineering Co., Ltd. (SUMEC) – including DOE Region VII Regional Director Dir. Renante Sevilla, Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro represented by Cebu Provincial Board Committee on Energy Chairman for the 2nd District Dr. Stanley Caminero, and Toledo City Mayor Marjorie “Joie” Perales among others.

The milestone was celebrated by MGEN executives alongside government officials and project partners, symbolizing the collaborative effort behind the project’s successful completion.

During the event, MGEN highlighted the importance of partnerships among the private sector, government agencies, and industry stakeholders in advancing the country’s energy transition goals.

Developed through Toledo Energy Development Corporation, a thermal subsidiary of MGEN, the Toledo BESS delivers 25 MW / 56.44 MWh in its Phase 1 operations, with Phase 2 planned to mirror the same capacity. The facility utilizes advanced lithium-ion technology to store electricity from both renewable and conventional power sources through the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM), making energy available when the grid requires additional support.

“The MGEN Toledo BESS is expected to play a critical role in supporting the stability of the Visayas grid and in advancing the energy transition. By helping manage fluctuations during peak and off-peak hours, the facility will contribute to maintaining reliable power delivery and improving overall grid resilience,” MGEN Thermal President and CEO Felino M. Bernardo said.

More than just a storage asset, MGEN Toledo BESS contributes to grid reliability by providing ancillary services that help balance supply and demand quickly, accurately, and efficiently.

In his message, MGEN President and CEO Emmanuel V. Rubio shared: “Cebu is a key demand center in the Visayas and an important part of the MGEN portfolio. The energization of the Toledo BESS marks an important milestone for the Visayas grid and reflects MGEN’s continuing commitment to support a more reliable, resilient, and sustainable energy system. We view this as a meaningful step forward for the region’s energy system, and MGEN is proud to support Cebu’s continued growth while helping power a better tomorrow.”

Phase 2 of the project is targeted for completion in June 2027 subject to regulatory clearances. The Toledo BESS project is MGEN’s second BESS project in the country. MGEN’s planned MTerra Solar includes a large-scale 4,500 megawatt-hour (MWh) energy storage development in Nueva Ecija, which is designed to support its 3,500 megawatt-peak (MWp) solar power pipeline in Luzon.