SM Prime Holdings Inc. is set to embark on additional large commercial rooftop solar projects for its malls next year following a successful installation at the SM City North Edsa, currently touted as the world’s biggest solar-powered mall.
At the formal launching ceremonies Monday, SM Supermalls president Annie S. Garcia disclosed that the group was now targeting to put up a similar solar power project in SM Dasmariñas, Cavite, where 3,243 solar panels would be installed to generate 800 kilowatts by May 2015. At the SM Mall of Asia, more than 10,500 panels are expected to be installed to produce 2.7 megawatts before the end of next year.
Garcia added that they expected to continue working with Solar Philippines with the two planned projects after a successful partnership on the 1.5-MW solar facilities installed at the SM City North Edsa. Although the capacity of these facilities accounted for only 5 percent of the mall’s electricity requirements, this could save SM Prime as much as P2 million in power costs every month and offset 1,200 tons of carbon dioxide emissions, equivalent to planting about 6,000 trees a year.
The capacity of the 5,760 solar panels installed at the SM City North Edsa was enough to power 1,000 households, or charge 21,285 mobile phones, or light up all the 16,000 lighting fixtures, 59 escalators and 20 elevators at the mall.
SM Prime did not disclose the amount invested for the project, but Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho L. Petilla estimated the investment at P130 million to P140 million. Apart from the SM malls, the Manuel L. Quezon University in Manila is also using solar facilities, while St. Scholastica’s College is expected to follow suit.
“The solar rooftop project is part of SM Prime’s continuing commitment toward making its operations sustainable and environment friendly especially (as) the Philippines (is) facing a potential energy shortage from 2015 onwards due to increasing power requirements and limited energy resources,” SM Prime said in a statement issued during the launching ceremonies led by President Aquino.
Prior to the SM City North Edsa solar power project, SM Prime was already operating a 1.1-MW solar project, made up of 3,740 panels, at its mall in Xiamen, China.