ACEN turns on Philippines’ first hybrid solar, energy storage facility

The Alaminos Solar and Storage hybrid facility has a 40MW capacity.

Ayala Group’s energy platform ACEN powered up Philippine’s first hybrid solar and energy storage project in Alaminos in Laguna province in central Philippines.

In a statement, ACEN said the 40 megawatts (MW) Alaminos Solar and Storage hybrid facility holds 24 battery containers with Saft 2.5 megawatt-hour lithium-ion batteries that can power around 20,000 households and avoid 35.87 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually.

The 2x20MW energy storage facility is adjacent to ACEN’s 120MW Alaminos solar farm and is configured to help manage internal electricity demands, and store electricity when the solar plant is generating power whilst demand is low.

It will also provide rapid power charging when demand is high and ancillary services to the national grid.

“We are delighted to start the operations of ACEN’s very first battery energy storage project. We will be looking to increase our investments in storage as the technology increases its viability and competitiveness,” ACEN President & CEO Eric Francia said.

With the hybrid facility, ACEN Chief Development Officer Jase Maria Zalabeta said they “can harness renewable energy more effectively amidst its variability while improving the operating capabilities of the grid and ensuring high reliability.”

Furthermore, ACEN said the hybrid facility is pioneering a Sustainability Hub where the plant will be surrounded by Ayala Land’s Carbon Forest.

There will also be a plastic recycling facility to be integrated to start the circular approach “diverting plastic waste from landfill to be upcycled into eco-bricks,” which will be used in building facilities within the plant.

It also said that the hybrid facility is an important initiative in its pursuit to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.