- One of the largest-ever integrated grid-scale Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) to support the integration of renewable energy sources for UPSI (Universal Power Solutions Inc.)
- The solution provides a reliable power supply to the Philippines and supports the country’s ambitions to rely on renewable energy sources increasingly.
As the Philippines make the switch to more renewable energy sources, the country is stabilizing grid reliability with its largest ever integrated grid-scale Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) at Limay in Bataan Province, supplied by ABB for Universal Power Solutions Inc. (UPSI), a unit of San Miguel Corporation Global Power Holdings Corp. Financial details were not disclosed. The Limay site forms part of a broader contract with UPSI for a 240MW capacity packaged BESS solution to strengthen the reliability and stability of the Philippine grid on the islands of Luzon and Visayas.
The San Miguel Global Power battery energy storage systems facilities in Limay were inaugurated by the president of the Philippines, Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., in March 2023. At this site, ABB provided a 50MW capacity packaged BESS solution to strengthen the reliability and stability of the grid on the main island of Luzon. The solution is designed to avoid large frequency deviations that can result in costly equipment damage and disruptive power system failure.
A significant amount of the Philippines’ primary energy supply is still fossil fuel-based, making the country vulnerable to rising energy costs and market volatility. At the same time, energy production is also CO2 intensive. The island nation is also exposed to tropical storms and natural disasters that adversely impact its energy infrastructure. To address these challenges while accelerating its ambitions towards a net zero energy supply, the Philippines aims to achieve 35 percent renewable energy generation by 2030 and 50 percent by 2040.
UPSI collaborated with strategic partner ABB to develop an innovative solution to transform the reliability of the area’s grid, which was highly susceptible to automatic load shedding and frequency fluctuations. The BESS is the first ABB eStorage Max, pre-engineered, modular, large-scale BESS, delivered as a solution within the Philippines and the APAC region. The answer is designed to significantly reduce imbalances in the grid that cause power interruptions to enable local industrialization and economic growth. It also supports integrating renewable energy sources, such as wind or solar, into the grid.
The project uses the ABB eStorage OS Energy Management System as the intuitive interface to the BESS, allowing users to make real-time decisions based on grid parameters to ensure performance stability. To satisfy the complex needs of the scheme and provide easy and quick installation, ABB developed a complete solution that uses standardized building blocks that are scalable and modular. The BESS includes the provision of battery enclosures, EcoFlex houses, UniGear ZS1 medium-voltage switchgear, and integrated skid units with transformers and inverters.