MGen targets 2027 for Cebu storage facility

Meralco PowerGen Corp. (MGen), the power generation arm of the Manila Electric Co., is rolling out its second battery energy storage system (BESS) in the country as it accelerates investments to support grid stability and the shift to cleaner energy.

The Pangilinan-led company said Monday it will deliver the first 25 megawatts (MW) of its planned 49 MW BESS in Toledo, Cebu, by 2026. Full capacity is targeted by 2027, pending regulatory approvals.

“This project is part of our broader commitment to strengthen the reliability of the grid and accelerate the country’s transition to a cleaner and more sustainable energy future,” MGen President and CEO Emmanuel V. Rubio said.

“Battery energy storage will be critical in managing variability in supply and demand, particularly as we integrate more renewable energy into the system,” he added.

The Toledo facility is designed to help balance supply and demand in the Visayas grid, where growing power consumption and a rising share of intermittent renewables require more flexible and responsive support. 

MGen noted that energy storage is becoming increasingly vital in maintaining safe and reliable electricity delivery, especially during peak and off-peak hours.

The project is MGen’s second foray into battery storage, following its planned 4,500 megawatt-hour energy storage facility in Nueva Ecija under MTerra Solar. That project is intended to support a 3,500 megawatt-peak solar pipeline in Luzon.