SOLAR Philippines Rooftop Projects Inc. has partnered with SM Malls to energize its shopping mall in North Edsa, Quezon City.
Solar Philippines has partnered with SM Malls to build this first of many solar plants around the country as part of SMs commitment to using clean, renewable energy, the company said on Thursday.
There are 5,760 solar panels and 60 inverters installed on the shopping malls’ 12,000-square-meter roof space. The solar power facility’s 1.5- megawatt capacity will be able to augment the malls power requirements, or the equivalent of 2,000 Filipino homes. It is expected to operate for over 25 years and offset an estimated 40,000 tons of carbon dioxide, or the equivalent of planting 200,000 trees.
An inauguration will be held on November 24, Solar Philippines added. The days of having to choose between business and the environment are over, said Leandro Leviste, president of Solar Philippines. Solar has gained the reputation of being expensive, not because of the technology, but because previous efforts were too small to benefit from economies of scale. By building the country’s largest projects, we’ve become the first local company to make solar cost-competitive with fossil fuel.
As it expands into more high profile commercial projects, Solar Philippines is taking advantage of economies of scale to bring solar to the residential market at more affordable prices than ever before. Its recently introduced residential packages are empowering Metro Manila homeowners to drastically cut their electricity bills, taking the company further along its mission of bringing solar to every home and business in the country.
Recently, the company launched its 700-kilowatt hour solar rooftop project in Laguna. The company is working on forging similar agreements with other mall owners, including Robinsons.
It expects to complete at least seven more mall projects by end of 2014.
Solar Philippines is taking the lead in accelerating the adoption of solar energy as a solution to climate change and the power crisis. The company’s mission is to make solar affordable and accessible to every home and business in the country, it added.
Lenie Lectura