Siliman, First Gen unit renew power supply contract

By Alena Mae S. Flores – November 1, 2023, 7:10 pm
from manilastandard.net

Christian learning institution Silliman University renewed its retail electricity contract with First Gen Corp. of the Lopez Group.

This is the university’s third contract renewal with First Gen, which would continue to supply 2.5 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy from its pure renewable energy arm, Energy Development Corp. (EDC).

First Gen will supply Silliman University with 2.1 MW in the first year, 2.3 MW in the second year and 2.5 MW in the third year of the contract.

“Being an institution that [helps] mold young minds, (Silliman University’s) action directly impacts the younger generation to be more conscious of choosing sustainability. We look forward to celebrating more milestones. We hope that besides supplying you with renewable energy, we can explore projects with your students that we can partner with, as well as provide energy solutions that can help with SU’s energy efficiency,” said First Gen power marketing and sales head Arlene Soriano.

Siliman is the only university in Negros Island and one of the few in the country to be 100-percent powered by renewable energy as part of its sustainable development programs.

Siliman president Dr. Betty Cernol McCann said renewing the partnership with First Gen is a testament to the institution’s commitment since 2018 to “finalizing its environmental Principles, Policies, and Guidelines which highlight the university’s commitment to a green and sustainable campus.”

“One of the identified ways for the university to demonstrate its sustainable operations is through the use of renewable energy to reduce its carbon footprint,” McCann said.

She said the university chose to stay with First Gen for its full load requirement not only because the power that it provides through EDC is clean, renewable and reliable but also cheaper, based on its experience when it first shifted to the RE provider’s geothermal power or Geo 24/7 four years ago.

A part of Siliman’s power supply also comes from its own solar power panels.

“More than the savings generated by our switch to renewable energy, what is more compelling is our contribution to a ‘decarbonized and regenerative future.’ To concretize this, with just a year’s use of renewable energy from 2020-2021, we were able to prevent an equivalent of 974.5 tons of carbon dioxide from going into the atmosphere.,” said Siliman vice president for development, enterprise and external affairs Jane Annette Belarmino.

This is consistent with the university’s aim of being a model sustainable campus not only in Negros Island but also in the whole country through programs on zero waste management, energy conservation, renewable energy utilization, biodiversity conservation and carbon footprint reduction.

The university enjoys these benefits from indigenous power generated locally from EDC’s Nasulo geothermal facility in Valencia, Negros Oriental.