13 September 2024
PLDT and its wireless unit Smart Communications have expanded their partnership with renewable energy producer First Gen to switch six network facilities in Mindanao to 100% renewable energy.
Among the facilities in Mindanao making the shifting to renewable energy is PLDT Ponciano, a regional facility that also houses Vitro Davao, the first data centre in Davao City established by Vitro, a subsidiary of ePLDT and the data centre arm of the PLDT group. PLDT said the switch makes the Davao facility the first Vitro data centre to be powered 100% by renewable energy.
According to PLDT, the shift of the six Mindanao facilities to renewable energy is expected to generate approximately PHP23 million in savings on energy and operational costs annually for both PLDT and Smart. It’s also expected to cut greenhouse gas emissions by almost 13,000 tons a year, which also contributes to PLDT and Smart’s decarbonization roadmap that targets a 40% reduction of Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 2030 (coming from a 2019 baseline).
The Mindanao deal comes a little over a year after PLDT and Smart first launched their partnership with First Gen to use geothermal energy sources for network facilities in Cebu, Samar, Capiz, and Iloilo, said PLDT VP and sector head for property and facilities Leo Gonzales.
“Following the switch of four of our sites in the Visayas, we are once again tapping First Gen’s geothermal energy supply to increase the renewable component of the energy mix of our critical facilities in Mindanao,” said Gonzales. “This enables us to future-proof our facilities, reduce our operational expenses, and support the government’s Green Energy Option Program in the region.”
PLDT first VP, chief sustainability officer, and head of investor relations Melissa V. Vergel de Dios said that PLDT Group plans expand more renewables into its energy mix, including geothermal, solar and wind sources. PLDT expects to transition additional facilities in Greater Metro Manila to renewable energy before the end of this year after signing a deal with ACEN Renewable Energy Solutions in March.
