THE Transition Business Group (TBG) of AboitizPower is set to complete the rollout of its artificial intelligence (AI) and data analytics initiative — Project Arkanghel — at its coal-fired power plant in the Visayas within the year, with implementation in Luzon scheduled to follow in 2026.
Project Arkanghel is a strategic digital transformation program aimed at converting conventional power plants into smart facilities to improve operational reliability, efficiency and plant availability. Full implementation of the project will be rolled out in phases.
The 340-megawatt Therma Visayas plant in Toledo City, Cebu, serves as one of the project’s pioneer sites.
“We’re completing implementation in the Visayas this year and moving to Luzon next year,” said Celso Caballero III, president and chief operating officer, of AboitizPower TBG. He made the announcement during Schneider Electric’s Innovation Day celebration.
Caballero said the first phase of Project Arkanghel is up and running, currently in one of the 300-megawatt circulating fluidized bed plants in Therma South Inc. in Davao City.
The project features a Unified Operations Center equipped with digital twin technology, early anomaly detection systems and a live asset health monitoring platform. These systems allow engineers to proactively detect issues and optimize operations—resulting in lower heat rates, better fuel efficiency and extended plant availability.
Project Arkanghel is being developed in partnership with Thailand-based Repco Nex Industrial Solutions and leverages Schneider Electric’s Aveva Predictive Analytics software to analyze historical plant data for early warning signals.
Addressing key challenges
Caballero noted that the initiative addresses key challenges in the Philippine energy sector, including growing demand, vulnerability to typhoons and the need for affordable, reliable power.
The integration of AI and data analytics into its baseload power plant operations intends to help address these challenges.
The expansion of Project Arkanghel supports AboitizPower’s balanced energy strategy. While the company continues to grow its renewable energy portfolio—currently the largest in the Philippines by installed capacity under its operational control—it remains committed to upgrading its baseload fleet to meet immediate power requirements.
The application of AI and predictive systems is expected to play a central role in helping the company manage its transition toward a more sustainable and resilient energy future. / KOC