UP Manila solar panel expansion to lower carbon footprint

As part of efforts to reduce its carbon footprint and promote environmental sustainability, the University of the Philippines Manila said it is expanding its solar panel installations across its Ermita campus.

The solar panel arrays – a total of 10,000 square meters – will be laid out on 11 academic and administrative buildings allowing one of the country’s premier health sciences universities to produce 1,600 Megawatt hour (MWh) renewable power leading to an estimated P17 million annual electricity savings.

“Inspired by the Energy Efficiency Excellence (EEE) Award that we received from the Department of Energy (DOE), we have come up with a plan that would lessen our campus’ carbon footprint by 1,000 tons annually which is equivalent to the planting of 177,000 trees in our campus,” UP Manila Chancellor Michael L. Tee said.

In December 2023, UPM was one of the 27 government institutions honored with the EEE Award in recognition of its dedication to implementing and embracing energy efficiency and conservation programs, innovations and practices.

Carbon footprint refers to the cumulative volume of greenhouse gases, encompassing emissions like carbon dioxide and methane, produced by an activity, product, company, or nation. Typically measured in metric tons of emissions per specific unit of comparison, carbon footprints offer crucial insights into environmental impact and efforts toward sustainability.

“We are on track to become the nation’s biggest and independent campus power producer of renewable energy. The heat index is the language of the sun speaking to us about the need to respond to climate concern,” Tee said.

UPM started its renewable energy project in November 2022 when it installed 48.6 kilowatts peak (kWp) solar panels (also known as photovoltaic panels) at the Henry Sy Sr. Medical Sciences Building covering a total of 554 square meters roof area and generating an annual savings of P650,000 in electricity charges. This translates to the planting of 6,558 trees around the campus.—RF, GMA Integrated News