3,000 Globe cell sites to run on renewable energy by 2028

Photo from Globe website

MANILA, Philippines — Globe Telecom is making aggressive steps to power over 3,000 cell sites with renewable energy by 2028.

The Ayala-backed group leads the local market in advancing the clean energy shift as it is the first telco to join the government’s retail aggregation program (RAP).

Under this initiative, a business entity can consolidate the electricity demand of its facilities to hit the 500-kilowatt threshold. This would qualify such a group to join RAP and be able to choose electricity suppliers.

Toward this shift, Globe has started with some of its network infrastructure in Metro Manila and the Calabarzon region.

The telco giant said that a total of 33 high energy-utilization facilities are now running on green energy sources. Of these, 22 are sourced from its power contracts with another Ayala-led firm, ACEN Renewable Energy Solutions (ACEN RES).

“With RAP, we are able to address the urgent need to reduce emissions at scale,” said Yoly Crisanto, Globe’s chief sustainability and corporate communications officer.

‘Net zero’ goal

“By expanding our sourcing of renewable energy to thousands of additional sites, we are taking deliberate steps toward our Net Zero goals and proving that clean energy is not only viable but necessary across all operational levels,” Crisanto said.

READ: When ‘net zero’ is within reach

As the government program gains more traction, not just in mainland Luzon, the ERC earlier said it was hoping that “more institutions across the country will be inspired to follow suit.”

Irene Maranan, senior vice president and head of ACEN Corp.’s communications and sustainability team, said their agreement with Globe “reflects the strength of synergies across the Ayala group in driving meaningful climate action.”

ACEN RES is the retail arm of ACEN, a renewable energy company that is listed on the Philippine Stock Exchange.

Both Globe and ACEN said this boosted clean energy shift mirrors the current efforts of the government to increase renewables’ share in the electricity generation mix to 35 percent by 2030. Currently, its contribution is only 22 percent.

READ: ACEN unloads diesel plants as part of 100% renewable energy play