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Manila Times Business

"it's futuristic to see the level of automation", Ian Thorpe in an Exclusive Interview at Fox ESS's Factory

WENZHOU, China, Aug. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Recently, Ian Thorpe, an Australian multiple Olympic champion and Fox ESS's brand ambassador, visited Fox ESS's new smart factory in Wenzhou. Opened in June, the facility integrates cutting-edge technologies and has increased production efficiency by 66.7%. The factory covers 46,000 square metres and forms part of Fox ESS's plan to scale up manufacturing, reinforcing its long-term commitment to low-carbon energy solutions and global growth. "It's been

Context & Analysis

For Philippine companies evaluating how to hedge against rising electricity costs and intermittent supply, the expansion of Chinese energy-storage manufacturing is worth watching. The news is less about a celebrity visit than about production capacity. Chinese manufacturers are scaling smart factories for energy storage systems, a key component of solar projects, backup power, and microgrids. When capacity expands, distributors may gain more options, shorter lead times, and competitive pricing, especially as global demand for battery storage grows alongside electrification and renewable adoption.

For the Philippines, this matters because electricity cost pressure and grid reliability remain central concerns for malls, factories, hospitals, data centers, resorts, and residential communities. Solar-plus-storage can reduce peak-demand exposure and provide backup during outages, but storage has historically been a significant share of project cost. A larger global supply base could help make those systems easier to source as local developers compare brands, warranty terms, cycle life, and after-sales support. It also fits the country’s push toward distributed renewable energy under existing policy frameworks, where businesses increasingly look at rooftop solar, on-site batteries, and smart monitoring to manage energy bills.

What to watch next is not just factory announcements but local market response: whether Philippine distributors secure inventory, whether service and warranty coverage improves, and whether standardization of safety and installation requirements becomes clearer. If storage costs decline or supply becomes more reliable, demand could accelerate in commercial real estate, industrial estates, and residential subdivisions. For investors and operators, the practical question is which suppliers can deliver not only equipment but also local technical support, grid compliance, and long-term maintenance—factors that determine whether a solar-battery project pays for itself.

Analysis by IJE Software — original commentary on the story above.

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Source: manilatimes.net

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