Robinsons Starmills in San Fernando, Pampanga, has the largest mall rooftop solar facility in the world.
Without a doubt, many Filipinos consider the mall as their second home—and it’s not just on weekends anymore. Every day of the week, malls are packed with people, whether they’re there for shopping, eating, being entertained, or availing themselves of services. As expected—due to the large number of people malls attract—these shopping centers have correspondingly high electricity requirements.
To help keep electricity costs low as well as to lend a hand to the environment, Robinsons Land Corporation came up with a practical solution: make efficient use of solar energy. “Having our own renewable source of clean energy allows us to reduce our carbon footprint and do our share in protecting the environment by using less electricity produced through fossil fuels,” explained Frederick Go, President and CEO of Robinsons Land Corp., late last year, as the company announced plans to introduce solar energy to more of its malls and also consider capacity expansions for existing sites.
To date, there are 14 Robinsons Malls with solar PV installations. Using photovoltaic (PV) cells, panels convert sunlight directly to electricity. Solar energy is seen as an inexhaustible and import-independent resource. As such, its use is seen to enhance sustainability, reduce pollution, and bring energy costs down; considering that the Philippines is saddled with the second highest electricity cost in Asia, second only to Japan, increasing the number of solar powered facilities is one of the most logical ways forward.
In San Fernando, Pampanga, Robinsons Starmills still boasts being the world’s largest solar plant installed in a mall or commercial setting. A total of 10,880 solar panels were installed on the sprawling shopping complex’s roof by Solenergy Systems, enabling the facility, launched in May 2016, to generate 2.88 megawatts of electricity. According to company estimates, by bringing Starmills off the grid, carbon dioxide emissions have been cut by 2.25 million kilograms, equivalent to the planting of 100,000 trees. This came barely a year after Robinsons Land launched a solar panel grid in Robinsons Place Palawan, initially as a 1.2 megawatt facility, the company’s first.
From left: Larry Fernandez, Meralco VP and Head for Utility Economics; Atty. Patrick T. Aquino, of the DOE Energy Utilization and Management Bureau; Frederick D. Go, Robinsons Land Corporation President and CEO; Jose Rainier A. Reyes, Spectrum Director and President; Atty. William S. Pamintuan, Spectrum Director; and Aldwin Christian C. Ang, Spectrum Treasurer; posing at Robinsons Novaliches’ rooftop solar plant, built by Meralco subsidiary Spectrum.
At present, with nearly 58,000 solar panels installed for a total capacity of 15,940 kwp in 14 of its malls, Robinsons Land produces more than 19 million kilowatt hours (kwh) of clean energy annually for its own use, helping eliminate 13,000 tons of carbon dioxide. The installation of solar PV panels is ongoing in Robinsons Place Ilocos (1,800 kwp) and Robinsons Place Pangasinan (1,217.15 kwp) and estimated to be operational by January 2019. Five more malls--Robinsons Place Pavia, Robinsons Place Iligan, Robinsons Place Butuan, Robinsons Place Ormoc, and Robinsons North Tacloban (total of 7,800 kwp)--are in the final stage of negotiation and will be ready by the first quarter of 2019. By this time, RLC will have a total solar generation capacity of 33,000 kwp.
Robinsons Land’s efforts to contribute to a better planet have not gone unnoticed. Late last year, the company emerged as one of the top winners at the 35th Don Emilio Abello Energy Efficiency Awards, spearheaded by the Department of Energy. Named after the late lawyer, diplomat, and former chairman of Meralco, the awards recognize outstanding companies and energy managers who have undertaken energy efficiency and conservation programs to achieve substantial savings in their energy consumption. After winning one award in 2016, Robinsons Land achieved an extraordinary tally of 12 energy efficiency awards in 2017.
The top honors, dubbed the “Outstanding Awards,” were given to establishments that had at least 5% energy savings from the previous year. Four Robinsons Malls earned this distinction: Robinsons Place Angeles (12.6% production energy savings, equivalent to Php5.4 million saved); Robinsons Fuente (7.8% production energy savings, equivalent to Php5.2 million); Robinsons Place Antique (17.3% energy savings, equivalent to Php4.4 million), and Robinsons Place Palawan 5.0% production energy savings, equivalent to Php4.2 million). All four malls also reduced their production of carbon dioxide by more than 2,000 tons.
To go with its four Outstanding Awards, Robinsons Malls also earned three Citation Awards (for those achieving 3% to 5% savings), one Special Award (achieved between 1% to 3% savings), and four Outstanding Energy Manager awards, namely Engr. Manuel Llagas of Robinsons Fuente Cebu; Engr. Leo Galuego of Robinsons Place Angeles; Engr. Sunny Deramas of Robinsons Place Antique; and Engr. Elmer Borejon of Robinsons Place Palawan.
With its growing network of new malls plus its plans to retrofit solar panels to some existing shopping centers, more accolades appear destined to come Robinsons Land’s way. Come what might, its solar panels will be silently harnessing the power of the sun, ready to light another day.
For more information on Robinsons Land Corporation, please visit www.robinsonsland.com.
