THE NATIONAL Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) on Tuesday, Nov. 10, said the rollout of its Project Airbag in Mindanao is still being evaluated.
Garri Mikhail C. Yu, NGCP planning and engineering transmission manager, said the company is still evaluating the possible locations in Mindanao where the facility will be erected.
The Project Airbag is a transmission-side battery energy storage initiative expected to provide additional flexibility to the power grid amid tight supply conditions and preparing the country for possible generation constraints associated with the 2027 El Niño.
Project Airbag will deploy battery energy storage systems that can store available electricity and release it when the grid is under greater pressure, giving NGCP an additional fast-response tool during short-duration shortages and system disturbances.
NGCP said battery storage can be deployed more quickly and reduce immediate system vulnerability while additional power plants and other infrastructure are being developed.
Project Airbag has already been rolled out in Luzon and Visayas.
“We’re doing constant studies, constant evaluation that the project Airbag can help the current situation here in Mindanao,” he said.
“But along the way, maybe this year or next year, we’ll be focusing also on the development of that Airbag project here in Mindanao,” he said.
Asked about potential sites, the official said there are several but declined to name them, as NGCP is still weighing which would be the most strategic.
DOST-PAGASA in an advisory warned that Strong El Niño is currently active in the Tropical Pacific.
According to climate models and expert evaluations, the phenomenon is expected to intensify into a Very Strong El Niño between the September–December 2026 season and persist through the first half of 2027.
Yu however said Project Airbag would not directly address problems brought by El Niño, since NGCP does not propose generation projects.
As the transmission provider, the company’s role is to ensure power from generating plants is delivered to consumers and that lines operate smoothly without faults.
“The transmission provider NGCP only makes sure that the generation will be delivered from the generating plants toward the consumers,” he said.
The official said hot weather raises the load on transmission lines, and NGCP, as grid operator, must work to prevent line trippings and make sure that the grid will operate smoothly.
Meanwhile, NGCP is expecting to complete several substation projects in Mindanao before the year ends. These mainly involve substation work, including the upgrading of transformers.
NGCP has already completed and energized this year the Tacurong-Kalamansig 69kV transmission line, which serves the remote area of Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat.
