The Silliman University Medical Center Foundation Inc. has taken a significant step toward sustainability by signing a 15-year solar power agreement with First Gen Corp. on Thursday.
The Hospital also renewed its partnership with First Gen for a direct supply of renewable energy through the government’s Green Energy Option Program.
The agreement enables SUMC to source 800 kilowatts of electricity from the Palinpinon geothermal power plant in Valencia, Negros Oriental, operated by First Gen’s subsidiary, Energy Development Corp.
The SUMC has also installed on its roof top a solar power facility funded by First Gen, comprising 840 solar panels that generate up to 462 kilowatt-peak of electricity.
SUMC President/Administrator Fredita Tan said the partnership with First Gen resulted in a “substantial drop” in their electricity consumption, although she could not disclose specific amounts.
Tan said they have been using clean and renewable geothermal energy the past two years, sourced directly from the geothermal power plant. With the new solar power agreement, she added they are looking at further lower costs of electricity.
First Gen estimates that SUMC will save at least P300,000 monthly, or about P1 per kilowatt hour.
In addition to cost savings, SUMC has cut its carbon footprint, monitored through a Remote Energy Monitoring System provided by First Gen affiliate Pi Energy.
The system optimizes energy usage, complementing an Energy Audit to ensure efficiency.
First Gen Vice President Carlos Lorenzo Vega highlighted the energy-intensive nature of hospitals, and emphasized the importance of reducing carbon emissions.
“We’re not just selling energy; we’re helping customers manage their consumption prudently,” Vega said.
The Hospital remains connected to the grid via the Negros Oriental II Electric Cooperative, but no longer relies on it for power.
After 15 years, First Gen will transfer ownership of the solar power system to SUMCFI.
This partnership aligns with Silliman University’s broader sustainability goals, and exemplifies GEOP’s potential to empower eligible power consumers.
First Gen VP Vega, during an interview on Thursday, emphasized the company’s commitment to forging “collaborative pathways to a decarbonized and regenerative future.”
Vega, who was here for a solar power agreement with Silliman University, said the company’s renewable energy portfolio by 2030 will include geothermal, solar, wind, and hydro sources.
“This is a significant step in helping the country meet its target,” Vega said.
He noted that First Gen’s transition strategy includes the use of natural gas as a bridge fuel to address the current shortfall in renewable energy needed for full decarbonization.
First Gen’s subsidiary, Energy Development Corp., generates over 60 percent of the country’s geothermal energy, making it one of the world’s largest producers.
With 28 solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal power plants, First Gen has a total installed capacity of 1,651 MW.
Including its four natural gas plants, which provide a transition fuel to ensure grid stability and energy security, the company delivers 3,668 MW of low-carbon power.
Vega also highlighted First Gen’s efforts to expand partnerships in Negros Oriental under its Net Zero Carbon Alliance.
Silliman University is the Alliance’s first partner in the Province. Vega said discussions with other companies in the region are ongoing. (Judy F. Partlow/PNA)
