Singapore’s grid-scale BESS ready by 2029

PacificLight Power Pte Ltd (PLP), a subsidiary of Meralco PowerGen Corp. (MGen), is building a new 600-megawatt (MW) gas-fired plant on Singapore’s Jurong Island, which will feature the country’s first grid-scale Battery Energy Storage System (BESS).

According to the company’s latest approved timeline presented during its recent financial briefing, the new facility is scheduled to begin commercial operations by January 2029.

The addition of BESS is part of PLP’s commitment to supporting Singapore’s energy transition. The battery system is expected to improve grid stability and enhance operational flexibility.

In a separate development, PLP is also expanding its existing 830-MW combined cycle gas turbine facility by adding a 100-MW fast-start unit, which is slated to go online in the second quarter of 2025.

PLP said the expansion projects reflect its goal of delivering cleaner and more reliable power, as both plants will operate on liquefied natural gas.

The company is owned by FPM Power Holdings Ltd., a joint venture between MGen and First Pacific Company Ltd.

Renewable energy thrust

PLP’s parent firm, MGEN, has a renewable energy portfolio with nearly 400 MW of alternating current of net sellable capacity in seven provinces, including Bulacan, Ilocos Norte, Batangas and Tarlac.

The company is on track to exceed its target of 1,500 MW of renewable energy capacity by 2030, with projects like the 3,500 MW MTerra Solar, set to become the world’s largest integrated solar and battery storage facility, slated for completion in February 2026.