ACEN retail arm helps RCBC Plaza switch to 100% renewable energy
By Alena Mae S. Flores – August 6, 2024, 8:40 pm
from manilastandard.net
ACEN Renewable Energy Solutions (ACEN RES), the retail electricity unit of the ACEN Corp., is helping RCBC Plaza in Makati City switch to 100-percent renewable energy.
ACEN said in a statement this marks a significant leap forward for RCBC Plaza, solidifying its commitment to environmental leadership.
“We are delighted to partner with RCBC Plaza in their shift to 100 percent renewable energy. By choosing ACEN RES, they are enabling ACEN to develop more renewable energy capacity, help the country achieve its target to increase the share of renewables, and reduce its reliance on fossil fuels,” ACEN president and chief executive Eric Francia said.
ACEN is the listed energy platform of the Ayala Group with a fast-growing presence in the Philippines, Australia, Vietnam, India, Indonesia, Lao PDR and the United States.
The complex, known for its two office towers, four-level podium and extensive amenities, is the first IT zone in Makati designated by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority.
It also houses the 450-seat Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, the Yuchengco Museum, a 200-seat chapel, banking chambers, convenience and service shops, a food court, seven levels of basement parking, lecture and seminar rooms, and an open-air courtyard.
RCBC Plaza received its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) EBOM gold certification in May 2018, making it the first multi-tenanted building in the Philippines to achieve the prestigious certification. It was renewed in March 2024.
RCBC Plaza earned another feather in its cap: a “Powered by Renewable Energy” badge from ACEN RES with its switch to renewables.
This first-of-its-kind program in the Philippines acknowledges businesses committed to 100-percent renewable energy. The initiative aims to inspire and encourage other companies to embrace renewable energy solutions.
The partnership with ACEN RES extends beyond just securing renewable energy for RCBC Plaza.
ACEN said the Yuchengco group’s banking unit, RCBC, played a pivotal role in enabling its pivot to renewable energy with the divestment of its thermal asset, the South Luzon Thermal Energy Corp. (SLTEC), through a groundbreaking Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM).
Lorenzo Tan, president and chief executive of RCBC Realty Corp. which owns RCBC Plaza, said transitioning to renewable energy aligns perfectly with their vision for RCBC Plaza.
“This decision not only benefits the environment but also positions us as the premier destination for environmentally-conscious businesses seeking a world-class office space with a commitment to sustainability,” he said.
The partnership between RCBC Plaza and ACEN RES was made possible through the retail competition and open access (RCOA) program, a government initiative that gives qualified electricity consumers the freedom to choose their electricity supplier.
RCBC Realty Corp., a joint venture between the YGC and the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation, owns the RCBC Plaza.
Meanwhile, ACEN has about 4.8 gigawatts of attributable renewables capacity in operation and under construction, as well as signed agreements and won competitive tenders worth over 1 GW, the company has already effectively surpassed its original goal of reaching 5 GW of renewables by 2025.
ACEN aims to provide clean, reliable and affordable energy in the Asia Pacific and grow its renewables capacity to 20 GW by 2030.
