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Yuchengco-led EcoSolar Energy Corp. (ESEC) is reinforcing Capiz’s energy security with the development of a 90-megawatt direct current (MWdc) solar power project and the completion of the province’s first battery energy storage system, investments expected to improve electricity reliability and support the region’s growing renewable energy capacity.
The Department of Energy (DOE) recently awarded ESEC the service contract for the Panitan Solar Power Project after the company complied with the requirements under its Certificate of Authority issued in May 2025. The solar facility is targeted for completion by the end of 2028.
The service contract follows the completion of the mechanical works for the 20-megawatt/40-megawatt-hour (MWh) Panitan Energy Storage Project (PESP), a ₱1.25-billion battery facility that will proceed to testing and commissioning once government approvals are secured.
Strengthening Local Power Supply
For Capiz, the two projects represent the first major private-sector investment in power infrastructure in 17 years, providing additional local generating and storage capacity that can help lessen dependence on imported electricity and emergency diesel generation during supply disruptions.
ESEC President Francisco G. Delfin Jr. said the battery energy storage project comes at a crucial time as communities and businesses in the Visayas continue to experience the effects of power shortages and grid instability.
“When completed in the fourth quarter of 2026, the PESP will bring practical benefits to Capiz by responding quickly to grid fluctuations, minimizing power interruptions, and providing local reserve power that can reduce reliance on costly diesel generation or distant power sources during emergencies,” Delfin said.
Built in just seven months, the battery facility is designed to respond rapidly to fluctuations in electricity supply, helping maintain stable power service while complementing renewable energy generation.
Improving Grid Resilience
The Visayas grid has been placed under repeated yellow and red alerts in recent months as supply reserves thinned due to the unavailability of several large coal-fired power plants. The recurring power shortages have highlighted the need for additional flexible resources capable of balancing electricity demand and supply.
DOE Undersecretary Mario Marasigan said the Panitan Energy Storage Project will help stabilize the Panay-Guimaras-Negros grid by storing excess electricity during periods of surplus generation and delivering it when demand increases or power output declines.
He added that the project’s two-hour storage capacity will also make it easier to integrate renewable energy sources such as solar and wind into the grid, resulting in a more reliable electricity supply for households, businesses and industries in Capiz.
The planned Panitan Solar Power Project is expected to complement the battery facility by providing additional renewable generation that can be stored and dispatched when needed, enhancing the province’s long-term energy resilience.
Expanding Renewable Energy Investments
The twin projects also strengthen ESEC’s renewable energy footprint in the Visayas while supporting the government’s push to expand clean energy infrastructure across the country.
To finance the battery storage project, ESEC earlier secured a ₱635.9-million loan from Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC).
ESEC is a special purpose company of PetroGreen Energy Corp., the renewable energy arm of publicly listed PetroEnergy Resources Corp., and is backed through a joint venture with Japan’s Kyuden International Corp.
With the battery storage facility nearing commissioning and the solar project entering its development phase, Capiz is poised to gain a more reliable, flexible, and sustainable local power system capable of supporting economic activity while strengthening the resilience of the Visayas grid.
Source:
https://tribune.net.ph/2026/07/24/ecosolar-secures-90-mw-solar-deal-after-storage-completion
https://business.inquirer.net/602075/ecosolar-energy-completes-p1-25-b-storage-project-in-capiz