StB Giga Factory begins production of batteries that will transform Asia’s energy storage landscape

New Clark City, Philippines: The Trevor St Baker AO-backed StB Giga Factory has begun commercial production of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries after being launched by Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr in a ceremony at the plant on Monday. 

The factory will initially have a production capacity of 300MWh annually (the equivalent of about 30,000 home battery storage systems) servicing the Philippines market, neighbouring Asian countries as well as Australia and the United States. 

Mr St Baker, the StB Capital Partners Founder, who travelled to the Philippines for the ceremony with St Capital Partners CEO and Managing Partner, Chris Hay, said the factory would transform the Southeast Asian energy storage landscape and aimed to reach production of 2GWh of battery storage by 2030 or even earlier. 

“StB Giga Factory is positioned to capture the once-in-a-century transition towards a renewable energy electricity system, in which LFP batteries are expected to play a pivotal role,’’ Mr St Baker said. 

“It realises our vision to transform the Southeast Asian energy storage landscape by producing advanced LFP batteries for residential, industrial and utility scale Battery Energy Storage Systems as well as Electric Vehicles (EV) and Electric Charging Stations.’’ 

The StB Giga Factory opening ceremony was also attended by Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Her Excellency HK Yu. 

Construction of the factory, located in the Bases Conversion Development Authority  free trade zone of Clark Special Economic Zone at the Filinvest Innovation Park, New Clark City, began in July 2023 with a strategic investment from the joint venture partners.  

The plant currently employs about 40 workers, but this number is expected to grow towards 150 by next year as the plan expands.  

When StB Giga achieves its 2GWh planned capacity, about 500 staff are expected to be employed at the factory and worldwide. The factory is projected to create about 2000 additional indirect jobs supplying materials, providing services, and distributing its products. 

“Next generation batteries are the cornerstone of the energy transition, powering sustainable infrastructure and clean transport systems from battery energy storage systems (BESS) and electric vehicles to EV charging,’’ Mr Hay said. 

He said the factory would satisfy early demand for purpose-designed batteries for electric vehicle charging and cater for residential and commercial-scale battery energy storage solutions locally and overseas, particularly North America. 

Lithium-iron phosphate batteries are expected, over time, to provide energy storage solutions for solar PV in millions of homes and larger premises, including sporting and entertainment venues and retail premises. The batteries would also support public EV DC fast charge stations and small vehicles. 

The StB Giga Factory replicates proven operating battery manufacturing plants. 

StB Giga Factory plans to establish a Philippine Economic Zone Authority-registered local entity in addition to its export-oriented current entity to access fiscal and non-fiscal incentives such as tax holidays, duty-free importation of raw materials and streamlined export processing as it moves into production for both Philippine domestic and international markets. 

Mr Hay said StB Capital Partners was open to collaborating with other strategically minded partners to realise the scale of opportunity presented with the StB Giga-Factory and support the group’s mission to promote sustainable energy solutions across the globe. 

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