Building a sustainable energy future for the Philippines

Sometime in the future, every breath of air taken in the city will be refreshing as zero-emission transportation becomes the norm. Energy sources will be greener, recycling initiatives will be popular, and Filipinos will lead a more comfortable life as resources will be made accessible to all. For all of these to happen, the government, backed by the private sector, has started to adopt systems to make a sustainable lifestyle possible for everyone. Take, for instance, the growing electricity demand required from the energy sector. The Philippine government plans to reduce the country’s dependency on traditional options like coal in favor of renewable sources by 2040 as part of its sustainable development goals.

Roadmap to sustainability

This commitment to a sustainable future is shared by AboitizPower. As the pioneer of renewable energy in the country, AboitizPower has been strengthening their environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) policies and practices in response to issues such as climate change, employee welfare, consumer protection, and company leadership. The company follows strict guidelines to minimize occupational safety risks in all their facilities.

AboitizPower also encourages a healthy and diverse working environment through sustained employee engagement programs even amid the pandemic. The company also focuses its philanthropic efforts on education, enterprise development, and the environment, especially in its partner communities through initiatives like scholarship programs, medical missions, coastal cleanups, and tree-planting activities.

POWERING COMMUNITIES WITH A RAY OF SUNSHINE. San Carlos Sun Power Inc. (SacaSun) is the first solar power project of AboitizPower. The power plant stretches across the plains of Negros Occidental, providing customers with 59-MWp of Cleanergy.

Among its most notable strategies in its roadmap to sustainability is Cleanergy, the company’s brand of clean and renewable energy. Currently, this consists of 29 hydro, solar, and geothermal power plants providing reliable and sustainable supply of energy to homes and businesses all over the country. AboitizPower is ready to expand their Cleanergy portfolio within the next 10 years to transform their capacity mix into an almost 50:50 Thermal: Cleanergy balance. This shift will answer the increasing demand of renewable energy in the country.

The Cleanergy Center in Laguna and the Cleanergy Park in Davao are facilities to increase awareness on the importance of renewable energy and the benefits of a sustainable lifestyle.

PRESERVING WILDLIFE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. The Aboitiz Cleanergy Park managed by AboitizPower distribution unit Davao Light serves as a haven for endangered fauna, most notably the sea turtle. The park hosts educational tours for guests and students, where turtle hatchlings are also released into the sea.

Sustainability for all

Clean energy is the key to fighting climate change as it significantly lowers the amount of greenhouse gas emissions and pollutants released in the atmosphere. It is not only good for the planet, but good for the people and the economy too. Public health will improve as there will be less water and air pollution. The renewable energy industry opens more job opportunities than traditional power plants, especially in rural areas where such facilities are constructed. Clean energy is more cost-effective in the long run, giving consumers a more affordable and eco-friendlier alternative for electricity.

INSPIRING FUTURE ENERGY LEADERS. The Cleanergy Center is a fully-interactive educational facility focusing on renewable energy, where visitors, mostly students, are also given a tour in one of the AP Renewables, Inc.’s (APRI) geothermal power plants. As the world moves towards a more sustainable future, AboitizPower, through the Cleanergy Center hopes to impart to future leaders the value of renewable energy.

Currently, the available energy supply from renewable sources is not yet enough to power the entire Philippines. Thermo-electric stations are still needed in order to fulfill the country’s energy demands. According to the World Energy Council, a healthy energy system must balance the demands of what is known as the World Energy Trilemma Index. The trilemma is made up of energy security, energy equity, and environmental sustainability.

AboitizPower has aligned its strategy to this principle by creating a Balanced Energy Mix of thermal and renewable to supply the Philippines with sustainable, cost-effective, and sufficient energy with the least impact on the environment. By balancing the interests of the people, planet, and the company, AboitizPower’s #PositiveEnergy is poised to make a better future for their partners, consumers, and the rest of the nation.

Learn more about how AboitizPower is making a greener, positive impact through their sustainability initiatives by visiting https://aboitizpower.com/