NAGA CITY, CEBU — The decommissioned Naga Power Plant Complex in Barangay Colon began its transformation on July 1, 2026, as AboitizPower broke ground on a 60‑megawatt Battery Energy Storage System. The project repurposes a former coal‑and‑diesel facility into a fast‑response energy asset that will stabilize the Visayas grid.
From Fossil‑Fuel Legacy to Clean Energy Asset
The site originally housed thermal plants built by the National Power Corporation in the 1980s. After AboitizPower acquired the complex in 2018, the old coal‑ and diesel‑fired units were completely demolished. The cleared industrial land is now being prepared for a modern battery storage installation, a move that demonstrates how legacy power properties can be redeveloped for the clean energy era.
The new BESS will have a power capacity of 60 MW and an energy capacity of 120 megawatt‑hours. Unlike a conventional generator, the system charges during off‑peak periods and discharges electricity in less than a second when the grid needs immediate support. This ultra‑fast response makes it an essential tool for eliminating yellow alerts and preventing rotational brownouts.
Government and Industry Rally Behind the Redevelopment
Department of Energy Undersecretary Mario C. Marasigan joined Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro and Naga City Mayor Valdemar Chiong at the groundbreaking ceremony. Marasigan emphasized that the Visayas urgently needs at least 200 MW of additional battery storage to build a fully resilient grid, especially as the region faces persistent supply deficits.
Governor Baricuatro noted that reliable power infrastructure is non‑negotiable for attracting investors. She stressed that projects like the Naga BESS turn an obsolete industrial property into a high‑value economic asset. The site’s strategic location within the Naga complex gives it direct access to key transmission lines serving the entire Visayas.
A Timely Solution for Grid Thin Reserves
The Visayas grid has been stretched thin, with the National Grid Corporation issuing repeated Yellow Alerts since mid‑May. On the very morning of the groundbreaking, forced outages and derated capacities had knocked 935.3 MW offline across the region. The BESS will provide ancillary services that can instantly fill such supply gaps.
AboitizPower Transition Business Group President Celso C. Caballero III said the project embodies the company’s commitment to repurposing old power sites into forward‑looking assets. By using existing industrial land, the development avoids the need for greenfield conversion, making it a sustainable choice in both energy and land‑use terms.
Real Estate Value and Economic Ripple Effects
Adaptive reuse of the Naga complex preserves its industrial character while injecting new economic life into the surrounding barangays. The construction phase alone will generate local employment, and the operational facility is expected to raise the site’s long‑term value. Municipal officials see the project as a catalyst for complementary investments in logistics and technology around the power plant zone.
Commercial operations are targeted for October 2027. Once online, the battery hub will support the integration of more renewable energy sources across Cebu, Bohol, and Negros, reinforcing the province’s position as a hub for energy‑sector innovation and stable, future‑ready infrastructure.
