AC Energy Corp. (ACEN), the power arm of conglomerate Ayala Corp., has switched on its 150megawatt (MW) diesel-fired power plant in Pililla, Rizal.
The P1.9 billion diesel-fired power plant is the third plant to be switched on by ACEN for the year, after the 120 MW GigaSol Alaminos in Laguna and the 63 MW GigaSol Palauig in Zambales.
The company is also gearing up for the start of operations of its 40 MWh battery storage plant in Alaminos Laguna, and another 4 MW in Bataan.
AC Energy said the Ingrid diesel plant will help remedy the spate of power supply disruptions and augment the energy supply amid the Malampaya shutdown by starting to supply essential peaking and reserve power.
To ensure high availability for the plant, United Kingdom-based Aggreko installed 162 units of diesel generators, providing enough spare capacity. Aggreko will also provide operations and maintenance services to the Ingrid plant.
“Thermal firming capacity is critical to our energy transition strategy towards a lower carbon portfolio. To complement our renewables and to provide flexibility and stability to the grid, these firming assets will remain in our portfolio while we develop to scale up our energy storage facilities,” said Jose Maria Zabaleta, ACEN’s Chief Development Officer.
ACEN said it is committed to accelerate the development of its pipeline of power plants in the Philippines. It currently has about 2,100 MW in renewables capacity, and is on track to attain its goal of 5,000 MW of renewables capacity by 2025.