JAPANESE RECYCLING FIRM TAPS FIRST GEN

JAPANESE waste management and recycling company GUUN Co. Ltd. has switched to renewable geothermal energy from First Gen Corp. (First Gen) in a bid to achieve a 42-percent carbon dioxide (CO2) reduction by 2030.

GUUN’s Philippine branch in Consolacion, Cebu produces 8,000 tons of fluff fuel, an alternative fuel from waste plastics and residual waste that is used in cement plants as a substitute for coal.

However, this type of recycling entails huge electricity consumption, which contributes to carbon dioxide emissions because the power is usually generated using coal.

By using power from geothermal energy, GUUN expects a 50- to 55-percent CO2 reduction in its local recycling process, equivalent to 261 tons of CO2 emissions.

“Looking at all providers of this 24/7 source of renewable energy, we chose to partner with First Gen because of its proven track record in supplying geothermal power to its customers all over the country,” Takeshi Konishi, GUUN senior managing director and general manager, said.

GUUN’s one-year geothermal power supply will come from First Gen’s 100-percent RE arm, Energy Development Corp.

First Gen’s 100-percent renewable energy (RE) subsidiary has over 1,480 megawatts (MW) in total installed capacity and accounts for 20 percent of the country’s total installed RE capacity.

Its 1,185.40-MW geothermal portfolio also accounts for 62 percent of the country’s total installed geothermal capacity.

“We congratulate GUUN Co. Ltd. for making the right choice of switching to renewable energy to decarbonize its Philippine operations and help its own cement plant customers to also do the same. This greening of supply chains is necessary if we truly want to be a part of the solution to our climate crisis,” Carlo Vega, vice president and head of First Gen’s Power Marketing, Trading and Economics, said.