AboitizPower: Pioneering a Sustainable Energy Future

Digital substations like the Binugao substation in Davao City (pictured) captures and transmits real-time data, allowing its operators to have better control over the power distribution network, particularly in transforming the voltage to a stable and ready level for residential, commercial, and industrial use. - CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS

In a world that demands a future powered by sustainable energy, AboitizPower, a leading electric power company in the Philippines, is making strides in combining advanced technology with human ingenuity to help deliver the ultimate goal of a more resilient, more reliable, and cleaner power supply to the nation.

Under its “Project Arkanghel” initiative, the Company is actively transitioning its existing coal facilities to become smart power plants, which are meant to lessen downtimes through anomaly detection and live asset health monitoring systems that enable its operators to do more proactive maintenance.

From a Unified Operations Center that is also equipped with digital twin technologies, operators can be empowered to make data-driven decisions in predicting equipment failure, planning necessary repairs and actions, and improving plant reliability and efficiency.

Digital twins are virtual replicas of industrial assets that can mimic operational processes and systems, as well as detect faults and glitches earlier and in real time, all within a safe virtual environment. Pictured is a virtual replica of a boiler system developed by REPCO NEX being presented to representatives of AboitizPower in their visit to their Thailand office.

Another similar technological development is AboitizPower’s National Operations Control Center (NOCC), which preceded Project Arkanghel. The NOCC is being utilized today to operate and monitor 26 renewable energy facilities situated in different parts of the country all from one location. This has led to more efficient operations and dispatch of the hydropower and solar facilities integrated in its system.

The use of specialized drones in its vast hydropower and solar power facilities also makes maintenance and rehabilitation activities more efficient for AboitizPower engineers since they would no longer have to manually visit and inspect each solar panel, conveyance line, or any other component of the facility thanks to these drones.

Specialized drones support the operations and maintenance of AboitizPower’s San Carlos Sun Power facility (pictured) and some of its other renewable energy facilities, allowing for precision and boosting maintenance efficiency.

These are just among AboitizPower’s strategies to adapt to the forecasted growth in electricity demand in the Philippines, which is expected to double in just 13 years.

To date, AboitizPower’s portfolio of renewable energy assets, together with its partners, is the largest in the country based on installed capacity. Continuing to expand, AboitizPower already has over 1,000 MW of disclosed projects from various indigenous energy sources and is constantly pursuing opportunities to grow its portfolio for solar, hydro, geothermal, wind, and energy storage systems en route to its goal of adding 3,700 megawatts of new clean capacity.

While it is building the energy system of the future, it is also strengthening energy security today by operating thermal power plants to support the country’s baseload and peak energy demands. By doing so, it is also contributing to a “human transition” of powering the economy with cost-effective electricity to support the upward social mobility of Filipinos.

Distribution utilities

Beyond its power generation assets, AboitizPower is also making significant innovative contributions to the distribution of electricity.

First, by transitioning their conventional substations into digital ones, Davao Light and Visayan Electric are able to help enhance their power distribution networks, serving as vital facilities that transform electricity from a sub-transmission level voltage into a distribution level to make it stable and ready for residential, commercial, or industrial use. Unlike conventional ones, digital substations can capture and transmit real-time data, allowing the utility to remotely monitor and have better and faster control of its power systems when necessary.

Second, in improving customer service, AboitizPower also launched MobileAP, an app used by the customers of Visayan Electric, Davao Light, Cotabato Light, Subic EnerZone, and Lima EnerZone to manage their bills and payments from their mobile devices.

Beyond providing them a clear view of their energy consumption history, MobileAP users can also use an ePayment function to settle bills; a five-star in-app customer survey made to get direct feedback from users; and a “Manage your tenants” option, which allows the primary user to delegate which other users can access his or her account. The latter lets family members assign among themselves the responsibility of managing their electricity bill or enable a lessor to extend that capability to his or her tenants.

During AboitizPower’s Fleet Transformation Launch, Distribution Utilities COO Anton Perdices (pictured) outlined the transition of its fleet of four-wheel vehicles and motorcycles to 100% electric by 2040, beginning with Visayan Electric, Davao Light, and Cotabato Light.

True to AboitizPower’s advocacy of doing sustainable practices, customers are also given the choice of going paperless, with an option of receiving their bills solely via the digital platform.

Third, the Company’s distribution utilities are also spearheading the transition to electric vehicles in their respective service areas. Visayan Electric, Davao Light, and Cotabato Light have kickstarted AboitizPower’s transformation of its fleet of four-wheel vehicles and motorcycles to 100 percent electric by 2040. This is in line with the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act or EVIDA and its vision of cleaner mobility in the Philippines.

“AboitizPower’s efforts to champion sustainability and innovation is guided by the vision of creating a brighter future for the Philippines. The Company is playing a vital role in driving economic growth and improving the quality of life of Filipinos by helping build the energy system of the future while ensuring they get the electricity they need today,” said AboitizPower Vice President for Corporate Affairs Suiee Suarez. “As the country continues to develop and modernize, AboitizPower is positioned to be a key player in shaping a sustainable and prosperous energy future.”