The Filinvest Group and its French multinational partner-firm Engie will be providing renewable energy-generated power supply as well as other green solutions to Merasenko Corporation, a medical solutions company that has its operations base in Cebu.

In a statement to the media, it was announced that a memorandum of understanding (MOU) was inked by Merasenko with Filinvest-Engie Renewable Energy Enteprise Inc. (FREE) as well as with Engie to “explore opportunities for implementing renewable energy and energy efficiency solutions across its project sites in the Philippines.”

FREE, in particular, is a joint venture between FDC Utilities, Inc. (FDCUI), the power investment arm of Filinvest Development Corp. (FDC) of the Gotianun group; and Engie in a tie-up that was cemented in 2018.

Merasenko’s targeted procurement of electricity supply from RE source and its deployment of energy efficiency solutions will be part of its ‘net zero goal’, in reference to the strategy of companies to bring down their greenhouse gas emissions to as close to zero level, preferably by mid-century.

Engineer Jojie Tejano, vice president for Operations of Merasenko, has highlighted their company’s commitment “to be part of the green transition, and to align with the global decarbonization goals for 2030.”

He asserted that “as companies strive to establish and achieve their net-zero commitments, it's essential that corporations adopt concerted efforts to curb the effects of higher energy costs, climate change, and other manufacturing operational hurdles,” adding that their project with Filinvest-Engie “is a step in the right direction in balancing growth, profit, and sustainability.

As stipulated in the MOU, “Engie will conduct detailed energy audits and desktop studies to determine the feasibility of various green energy and energy efficiency solutions for Merasenko.”

According to Thomas Baudlot, chief executive officer for Energy Solutions APAC and Country Head Southeast Asia of ENGIE South East Asia and Director of FREE, the propounded solutions “would enable private companies like Merasenko to improve operations, while helping them fulfill their social responsibility to minimize climate-related threats.”

The French company emphasized that it will be pushing for any solar projects, so long as these ventures are agreed with Merasenko.

Baudlot noted that Engie and FREE will be leveraging on their sustainable energy expertise “to support Merasenko in advancing its decarbonization in the Philippines.”

Prior to the signing of the MOU, it was conveyed that Merasenko already engaged FREE “to develop a solar photovoltaic system for their facility in Cebu Light Industrial Park.”

The solar rooftop installation is targeted for operational kick-off by first quarter next year; and that venture will “reduce Merasenko's carbon emissions by more than 3,500 tons over the 20-year contract period.” Essentially, that will be equivalent to at least 15,000 gasoline-powered cars taken off from the road

The project was underpinned with a power purchase agreement, which covered construction and ownership of the new equipment; plus the operation and maintenance of the solar installation and the transfer of the equipment by the end of the contract period.