Cemex, FREE to develop solar system in Cebu plant
By Alena Mae S. Flores – November 16, 2023, 7:40 pm
from manilastandard.net
Cement producer Cemex Philippines signed a contract with Filinvest-ENGIE Renewable Energy Enterprise Inc. (FREE) to develop a 10.08-megawatt ground-mounted solar system in Apo Cement plant in Naga, Cebu.
The solar energy project is expected to avoid over 10,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide a year.
FREE is a joint venture company of FDC Utilities Inc., the power utility arm of diversified conglomerate Filinvest Development Corp. and ENGIE Services Philippines, the local division of ENGIE, a global leader in low-carbon energy and services.
“This solar energy partnership is another milestone under Cemex’s Future in Action program, as we progress closer to our goal of reducing scope 2 emissions, coming from electricity sources that supply us, to less than 24kg of CO2 per ton of cementitious product by 2030,” Cemex Philippines president and chief executive Luis Franco said.
He said FREE shares Cemex’s vision to address climate change through sustainable projects.
“This is a win not only for Cemex, but also for the planet as we take concrete steps in making renewable energy the future of the industry,” Franco said.
The APO Cement 10.08-MW solar project, one of the biggest solar projects in Cebu province, is the first collaboration between the companies. It is part of Cemex’s global Future in Action program, under which the company focuses on developing lower-carbon products, solutions, and processes to become a net zero CO₂ company by 2050.
The solar facility is expected to be completed next year and will add to the carbon-free electricity sources that Cemex has been utilizing in its operations, and it will be the biggest user of solar energy among cement plants in the Philippines to date.
Cemex and ENGIE also signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to explore the implementation of various renewable energy and energy efficiency solutions for Cemex’s facilities in the Naga, Cebu, to help the company advance its sustainability goals.
“FREE and Cemex are poised to set new benchmarks in clean energy integration, signaling a transformative alliance that reflects a collective dedication to environmental stewardship and forward-thinking business practices. Filinvest and ENGIE, leveraging our combined expertise, are pleased to play an integral role in helping Cemex climb the sustainability mountain,” FDCUI president and chief executive Juan Eugenio Roxas said. FREE focuses on developing solar energy rooftop systems for Philippine customers. Its technology allows consumers to save up to 30 percent of their energy spend while reducing their carbon footprint and increasing grid reliability.
