Solar energy powers resort in Cagayan
SANTA ANA, Cagayan: As a responsible corporate citizen in environmental stewardship, a resort in the Cagayan Special Economic Zone and Freeport has joined the growing number of companies that are shifting to sustainable renewable energy (RE) utilization in their operations.
Jack Yan, Cagayan Holiday and Leisure Resort ( CHLR) chief executive officer, said in early 2018, the company had entered into a contract with Citicore Power Inc. ( CPI) through its retail electricity supplier Citicore Energy Solutions Inc.
He said the solar power project has provided them with clean and sustainable energy to their luxury beachside resort and casino complex in the Cagayan ecozone.
“Our partnership with Citicore is an opportunity to support the development of renewable energy to reduce the impact of electricity generation on the environment,” Yan added.
Oliver Tan, CPI president, said the company offers complete, customized and competitively-priced solutions.
“We are truly happy that CHLR has partnered with us for the supply of its energy requirements. This would allow them to generate meaningful savings from their operating costs and to live their corporate value of environmental stewardship,” he said.
Citing the country’s Retail Competition and Open Access program, Tan said that large electricity consumers in Luzon and the Visayas with an average monthly peak demand of at least 1 megawatt (MW) can apply to become a contestable customer and choose its electricity supplier.
Tan said Citicore is committed to helping achieve a healthy energy mix for the country and lessen nationwide dependence on fossil fuels through projects using clean and sustainable energy.
“We have over 160 MW of existing RE capacity from our eight solar power plants all over the Philippines and a pipeline of close to 300 MW under development and construction,” he said.
In Echague, Isabela, Citicore recently started development for its first run-of-river hydropower plant to address the thinning supply of Isabela I Electric Cooperative.
In April 2018, the Department of Energy awarded the project a Certificate of Energy Project of National Significance. For the project, CPI is involved through wholly-owned subsidiary Citicore Renewable Energy Corp.
Tan said retail energy supply is being recognized in many industrial and commercial facilities as this enables them to choose their electricity providers that can support their companies’ economic and sustainability goals.
“Today, we see more opportunities in the retail market to further push renewable energy development,” Tan said adding that their company also supplies power to the Ayala Group, Citystate Center Condominium Corp. and MactanCebu International Airport.
Citicore also has sustainable woody biomass production in Negros Occidental and bulk water supply ventures in unserved and underserved areas in the country.