Filinvest, ENGIE secure over 13-MWs of solar projects

Diversified conglomerate Filinvest and French multinational energy firm ENGIE have secured three solar energy projects with a combined capacity of 13.68 megawatts (MW) under their joint venture firm Filinvest-ENGIE Renewable Energy Enterprise Inc. (FREE).

In a joint news release, Filinvest and ENGIE said FREE will construct a 10.08-MW ground-mounted solar array with Cemex, through one of its Philippine subsidiaries APO Cement Corporation (APO Cement).

The project will be located in the City of Naga, Cebu, and is projected to avoid more than 9,000 metric tons (MT) of CO2 annually.

The array, planned to deploy in 2024, will be governed by a 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA) and, over the life of the contract, cumulatively deliver carbon savings equivalent to removing over 50,000 cars from the road, according to the companies.

In Cabuyao, Laguna, FREE secured a contract with Dutch semiconductor manufacturer Nexperia to implement an over 3-MW rooftop solar system for their facilities, which process approximately one billion microchips a year.

By 2035, Nexperia is targeting to achieve carbon neutrality in its direct operational emissions and the indirect emissions associated with energy procurement.

This commitment necessitates a transition to 100% renewable electricity use.

Lastly, Merasenko Corporation, a leading medical products and solutions company, engaged FREE to develop a 0.53-MW peak rooftop solar system for their facility in the Cebu Light Industrial Park of Cebu City.

Meanwhile, Filinvest and ENGIE said its other joint venture firm, Philippine DCS Development Corporation (PDDC), secured a 20-year build, own, operate, and transport contract to develop a low-carbon centralized cooling system (CCS) for Festival Supermall in Alabang.

"ENGIE and Filinvest have been working in partnership to advance the Philippines’ sustainability goals since 2015. ENGIE is proud to be part of these new initiatives, which build upon the positive impact we have already made together in improving access to renewable energy, reducing CO2 emissions, and fostering more environmentally sustainable economic development in the country," said Thomas Baudlot, CEO ENGIE South East Asia.

“Filinvest and ENGIE, through the services offered by our joint ventures, FREE and PDDC, are proud to help companies from energy-intensive industries to achieve their sustainability goals,” said Juan Eugenio Roxas, president of FREE.

“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,” said Roxas. — DVM, GMA Integrated News