MANILA, Philippines – In a joint venture between Filinvest Group and global low-carbon energy leader ENGIE, four groundbreaking sustainable energy initiatives have been launched under Filinvest-ENGIE Renewable Energy Enterprise Inc. (FREE) and Philippine DCS Development Corp (PDDC).
The projects involve the deployment of a combined 13.68 megawatts (MW) of solar energy for industry leaders Cemex, Nexperia, and Merasenko Corp. Additionally, a sustainable cooling capacity of 11,400 refrigeration tons (RT) is set for Festival Supermall in Filinvest City, Alabang.
Since 2015, ENGIE and Filinvest have collaborated to advance the sustainability goals of the Philippines. Thomas Baudlot, CEO of ENGIE South East Asia, expressed pride in the new initiatives, emphasizing their positive impact on renewable energy accessibility, CO2 emission reduction, and environmentally sustainable economic development in the country.
Juan Eugenio L. Roxas, President and CEO of FDC Utilities Inc., the utility arm of Filinvest Group and president of FREE, stated, “With these projects, customers in complex industries like cement and semiconductor manufacturing are taking action to decarbonize, setting an example for others, without compromising on their bottom lines and customer satisfaction.”
New Solar Projects
Under FREE, the development of new solar projects with a combined capacity of 13 MW has been announced. Notably, the largest project is a 10.08-MW ground-mounted solar array with cement producer Cemex’s subsidiary, APO Cement Corp, located in the City of Naga, Cebu. Scheduled for deployment in 2024, the project is expected to avoid more than 9,000 metric tons (MT) of CO2 annually, governed by a 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA).
Cemex Holdings and ENGIE have also signed an MoU to explore renewable energy and energy efficiency solutions for Cemex’s facilities in the City of Naga.
In Cabuyao, Laguna, FREE will implement a 3-MW rooftop solar system for Dutch semiconductor manufacturer Nexperia, aiming for carbon neutrality by 2035, requiring a transition to 100 percent renewable electricity use.
Merasenko Corp, a leading medical products and solutions company, has engaged FREE to develop a 0.53-MWp rooftop solar system for their facility in the Cebu Light Industrial Park of Cebu City.
Sustainable Cooling System
PDDC will develop a low-carbon centralized cooling system (CCS) for Festival Supermall in Alabang, under a 20-year build, own, operate, and transfer (BOOT) contract. Scheduled for commissioning in 2025, the CCS is projected to save 47,500 metric tons of CO2 over the contract’s term, complementing Festival Supermall’s 2.8-MW rooftop solar system operational since 2021.
This latest series of projects underscores the commitment of Filinvest and ENGIE to expedite the Philippines’ energy transition.