AC Energy Corp. announced Wednesday the start of operations of its P1.5-billion 150-megawatt quick response diesel power plant in Pililla, Rizal to augment the energy supply amid the Malampaya shutdown.
The newly-completed diesel facility will supply essential peaking and reserve power to the grid. It is the third plant to be switched on by AC Energy this year.
The diesel plant is owned by AC Energy in partnership with Axia Power Holdings Philippines Corp., a subsidiary of Japan-based Marubeni Corp. To ensure high availability of the plant, Aggreko of UK installed 162 units of diesel generators, providing enough spare capacity.
Aggreko will 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 AC Energy chief development officer Jose Maria Zabaleta.
AC Energy aims to help address the critically thin reserves by accelerating the development of its pipeline of power plants as electricity demand continues to go up.
The company earlier completed the 120-MW GigaSol Alaminos in Laguna province and the 63-MW GigaSol Palauig in Zambales province.
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 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, becoming the largest renewables platform in Southeast Asia.
It is the listed energy platform of the Ayala Group and has energy investments in Vietnam, Indonesia, India and Australia.