City of Dreams switches on solar rooftop panels to supply 20% of its need

City of Dreams (CoD) Manila, the country’s first integrated resort to harness solar energy, on Monday switched on its 1.2-megawatt (MW) solar rooftop panels installed by a subsidiary of the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco).

There are 3,120 solar PV panels installed on a 6,436-square, meter area across two buildings. The P76-million solar project can generate power of up to 1,730 megawatt hour (MWh) annually, equivalent to 923,820 kilograms of carbon footprint reduction, which is enough to power almost 1,000 households every year.

City of Dreams Manila Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Kevin Benning said the solar panels could power up to 20 percent of its total consumption, which is estimated at about 7 MW.

Investment can be recovered in seven years, he said.

“This venture is a significant step in our vision to be sustainable in our operations. Utilizing clean and renewable energy is only one of our numerous green initiatives and we hope that as we set the bar for sustainable operations, we also inspire positive change as we all take part in the growing movement towards a more sustainable future,” Benning said.

CoD Manila is also considering to tap Meralco’s renewable-energy (RE) subsidiary Spectrum in providing more solar panels for the luxury integrated casino resort.

“It’s already under review. We are currently evaluating our roof deck where we can build additional panels. We will be done this year with our evaluation,” added Benning.

Spectrum, for its part, is hopeful it can seal anther contract with CoD. Benning said it only took “less than eight months” upon contract signing with Spectrum for CoD to harness solar power.

“The City of Dreams Manila’s 1.2-MW solar project is the single largest installation in a commercial rooftop, so you can consider yourself an industry benchmark. Now this begs the question: Why did Meralco, a company whose core business comes from the distribution of electricity, set up a subsidiary that effectively reduces consumption? Isn’t this counterintuitive?” Spectrum President and Meralco First Vice President, and Head of Customer Retail Services and Corporate Communications Victor Genuino wondered aloud.

He then answered his own question: “The simple answer is because you, our customers, demanded it. Our customers are evolving. They are becoming more conscious of their impact to diminishing resources—and they want to do something about it.”

Business partners, like City of Dreams Manila, “are a prime example of this rising social involvement by integrating sustainability into their business DNA,” added Genuino.