The Department of Energy has commended the 13.811-megawatt-peak (MWp) roof-mounted solar power project of Merbau Corporation in Batangas City. The project, which was completed in 2023, is the biggest consumer-driven rooftop solar panel installation in the country. Merbau is the renewable energy (RE) arm of JG Summit Holdings, Inc.
In a statement, Department of Energy Secretary Raphael P.M. Lotilla expressed his appreciation for the project and recognized Merbau’s contribution in providing the country with more renewable energy solutions. “This will not only result in cost savings and a lower carbon footprint but also encourages the construction of more RE resources consistent with the government’s policy on energy diversification and clean energy future,” said Sec. Lotilla.
DoE Assistant Secretary Mylene Capongcol, the keynote speaker at the official public unveiling of the project, likewise commended its proponents, Merbau and JG Summit, on the facility’s successful completion. “Transitioning to a green and sustainable economy requires pragmatic energy planning with bold actions and this project manifests Merbau’s commitment towards attaining its sustainable energy goals.”
The solar project was mounted on the rooftops of nine buildings inside JG Summit’s integrated petrochemical complex in Barangays Simlong and Pinamucan Ibaba in Batangas City, which houses the manufacturing plants of JG Summit Olefins Corporation (JGSOC) and the flexible packaging division of Universal Robina Corporation (URC).
The RE installation greatly reduces the consumption of power sourced from the national grid and from JGSOC’s in-house power plant, and significantly lowers the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of the petrochemical complex.
“This milestone marks a significant step in our journey as we aim to become a leading renewable energy company in the country,” said Merbau President and CEO Patrick Henry C. Go.
Energy Regulatory Commission Chair Monalisa Dimalanta encouraged other large commercial and industrial consumers to follow Merbau’s lead and pursue RE solutions for their power requirements. “This pioneering effort will help boost the country’s efforts to achieve energy security, while enabling this integrated petrochemical complex to shift towards cleaner sources of energy,” she said.
The rooftop panel installation was undertaken in collaboration with Merbau’s engineering, procurement, and construction contractor Upgrade Energy Philippines (UGEP), a leading installer of commercial and industrial solar rooftop facilities, utility-scale solar plants, and wind power plants in the Philippines.
Among those joining Merbau President and CEO Patrick Henry C. Go and JG Summit Olefins President and CEO Arnel Santos at the facility’s formal unveiling were guest speaker DOE Assistant Secretary Mylene Capongcol; Belgian Ambassador to the Philippines Michel Parys; Rep. Mario Vittorio Mariño of Batangas’ 5th District; Batangas City Mayor Beverley Rose Dimacuha; Batangas Provincial Board members Maria Claudette Ambida and Arthur Blanco; barangay captains Rufo Caraig, Pedro Cortez, and Loreto Gonito; Aboitiz Power Senior Assistant Vice President Gina Lyn Camacho; Development Bank of the Philippines representatives led by Rowena Aquino; Land Bank of the Philippines SME Mid-Market Lending Dept. II Head Jhopher Bigalbal; Clime Capital Country Manager Rachel Santiago; Upgrade Energy Philippines President and CEO Ruth Yu-Owen; and ERC Renewable Energy Division Chief Engr. Jayson Corpus.
