The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) is advancing Project Airbag, a battery energy storage initiative designed to ease pressure on the country’s power grid amid tight electricity supply and prepare for possible power constraints during the projected 2027 El Niño.
The project will deploy battery energy storage systems that can store excess electricity and release it during peak demand, generator outages, and other grid disturbances. The initiative comes as the Visayas continues to face tight power supply due to simultaneous generator outages.
NGCP said battery storage could provide immediate support to the grid while additional power generation facilities are being developed. It also aims to help address potential reductions in hydroelectric power output during El Niño, particularly in areas dependent on rainfall and reservoir levels.
Beyond addressing short-term supply concerns, Project Airbag is expected to improve grid flexibility and support the integration of renewable energy sources, including solar power, rooftop installations, and other distributed energy resources.
NGCP emphasized, however, that battery storage is not a substitute for additional dependable power generation but a complementary measure to strengthen grid reliability, accommodate growing electricity demand, and improve the country’s long-term energy security. (30)
