Merbau Corp., the renewable energy (RE) subsidiary of JG Summit Holdings, has officially completed its 13.811 MWp solar energy project in Batangas City, marking one of the largest solar rooftop installations in the country.
Henry C. Go, Merbau president and CEO, emphasized the significance of this milestone in the company’s journey to become a leading renewable energy entity in the Philippines.
Located in Barangays Simlong and Pinamucan Ibaba, Batangas City, this solar initiative underscores the conglomerate’s dedication to sustainable energy solutions.
Designed to substantially contribute to the energy needs of the fully integrated petrochemical complex of JG Summit, housing JG Summit Olefins Corp. (JGSOC) manufacturing plants and the packaging division of Universal Robina Corp. (URC), the project aims to reduce power consumption from both in-house production and the national grid.
This reduction will lead to a significant decrease in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through the utilization of renewable energy sources, yielding an estimated energy savings of 17.8 GWh/year and a projected GHG emissions reduction of 17,000 tons annually within the petrochemical complex.
The successful completion of the project highlights the effective collaboration between Merbau and its engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractor, Upgrade Energy Philippines (UGEP), a prominent player in commercial and industrial solar rooftop, utility-scale solar, and wind projects in the Philippines.
Ruth Yu-Owen, president and CEO of UGEP, expressed the company’s commitment to energy transition goals and dedication to sustainable solutions, contributing to a greener future.
The construction of the 13.811-MW solar project, spanning the rooftops of nine buildings, commenced in August last year. Executed in two phases, Phase 1 (5.8 MW) was completed in December 2022, followed by Phase 2 (8.0 MW) in April 2023.
Looking ahead, Merbau is exploring partnerships for projects with Robinsons Land Corporation, URC, Cebu Pacific, and other companies within the Gokongwei Group. The company also aims to expand its RE portfolio to provide sustainable and innovative energy solutions to eligible end-users beyond the group.
