SM Supermalls unveiled the company’s largest rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) system installed across over two hectares of SM City in Santa Rosa, Laguna.
SM Prime Holdings Inc. reaffirmed its commitment towards building for a sustainable future as it progresses towards its net-zero ambition by 2040.
The solar PV system at SM City Santa Rosa, which received the certificate of compliance (COC) from the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), is composed of 5,772 panels at 3.088-megawatt peak (MWp) capacity and has an annual solar energy production of up to 4.292 gigawatt-hours (GWh).
The installation of the solar PV system at SM City Santa Rosa will power 15 percent of the mall’s energy consumption needs.
SM Supermalls first started installing solar PV systems in 2014 at SM City North EDSA—the first mall in the Philippines to harness solar energy.
The facility in SM Mall of Asia has twice the capacity of SM North EDSA installed in 2016.
Harnessing solar energy as a clean and renewable source of energy, SM Supermalls reduced its reliance on the power grid, which is helpful during times when rising electricity demand is caused by increased temperatures.
SM Supermalls is also part of the interruptible load program (ILP) of the Department of Energy that provides 110MW of power for communities across the Philippines.
Around 56 malls use their own generator sets instead of relying on the power grid, which has proven helpful when there are local power interruptions and power supply needs to be rationed.
SM has the largest contribution among the private sector with SM Mall of Asia providing the highest committed capacity at 15.92MW for this program.
All 85 malls of SM Supermalls are energy efficient. Every mall maximizes natural lighting, through skylights and windows, and all malls have used LED lighting since 2018, ensuring energy efficiency.
“SM Supermalls is committed towards contributing to build a sustainable future. We have made significant strides in clean energy regeneration, as well as water conservation and recycling, and solid waste management,” SM Supermalls president Steven Tan.
“With the continuous support of our partners and the communities where we operate, we believe we can truly reach our science-based goals towards Net Zero by 2040,” he said.