AboitizPower taps AI for smarter Luzon, Visayas plants

Aboitiz Power Corporation’s Transition Business Group (TBG) is advancing its commitment to modernize coal-fired power plants in Luzon and Visayas by expanding the use of artificial intelligence (A.I.) and data analytics. This strategic move builds on “Project Arkanghel,” an ongoing initiative that aims to transform conventional power plants into smart facilities to boost plant availability and reliability.

“The first phase of Project Arkanghel is up and running, currently in one of our circulating fluidized bed plants in Mindanao,” said AboitizPower TBG President and COO Celso Caballero III, referring to the 300-megawatt Therma South, Inc. in Davao City. The project, developed in partnership with Thailand-based REPCO NEX Industrial Solutions and powered by AVEVA Predictive Analytics from Schneider Electric, uses historical data analysis to identify patterns and provide early warnings of potential issues.

At the heart of Project Arkanghel is the Unified Operations Center, which integrates digital twin technology, early warning systems, and live asset health monitoring. This enables engineers to anticipate problems and optimize plant performance in real time. “We’re completing implementation in the Visayas this year and moving to Luzon next year,” Caballero said during Schneider Electric’s Innovation Day celebration.

Therma Visayas, Inc. in Cebu was among the first plants to adopt this technology, while the site for Luzon is still being finalized. The A.I.-driven systems promise improved plant efficiency by lowering heat rates, enhancing fuel consumption, reducing downtime, and extending the periods between planned maintenance. This data-driven approach allows engineers to make more confident and precise decisions.

Caballero also highlighted the challenges faced by the Philippine energy sector, including rising demand, frequent typhoons, and the need to provide affordable power. “Power demand growth aside, if your plants are more available, you will be able to build fewer plants in order to cover for shortages,” he explained.

As the country moves toward a more sustainable energy mix, AboitizPower plans to grow its renewable portfolio alongside carefully selected baseload power plants. Expanding Project Arkanghel to coal plants in Luzon and Visayas reflects a balanced strategy that addresses the immediate need for reliable and cost-effective baseload power while supporting the growth of renewable energy.

AboitizPower continues to increase its capacity in renewable sources such as solar, hydro, geothermal, and wind. Together with its partners, the company currently manages the largest renewable energy portfolio in the Philippines by installed capacity under operational control.