High-end Ortigas residential project switches to renewable energy 

The St. Francis Shangri-La Place, a luxury development of Shang Properties and one of the tallest residential towers in Ortigas, Mandaluyong City announced Monday it is transitioning its common area energy use to 100-percent renewable energy through a partnership with the Ayala Group’s ACEN Renewable Energy Solutions (ACEN RES), according to a report by Manila Standard.

ACEN RES will power the building with renewable energy from ACEN’s portfolio of solar, wind and geothermal power plants, contributing to the Philippines’ broader transition to renewable energy.

By transitioning to renewable energy, The St. Francis Shangri-La Place avoids the emissions of around 2,200 tons of CO2 equivalents into the atmosphere annually.

This is equivalent to the carbon emissions generated by a gasoline-powered car traveling 8,824,570 km or the amount of carbon dioxide absorbed by 101,000 full grown trees in a year.

ACEN’s partnership with The St. Francis Shangri-La Place demonstrates the growing trend of organizations embracing renewable energy to benefit from cost savings and to accelerate their sustainability efforts.

“ACEN RES is dedicated to empowering organizations to make the switch to renewable energy to help them achieve their business and sustainability aspirations. We commend The St. Francis Shangri-La Place for setting an example for other businesses in embracing renewable energy as a means of contributing to the country’s goal of increasing the share of renewables in the energy mix,” said ACEN vice president for legal John Henry Liquete.

The initiative highlights the increasing adoption of renewable energy under the Green Energy Option Program (GEOP) of the Department of Energy, which allows electricity consumers to choose renewable energy sources through their preferred renewable energy supplier.

“We are proud to partner with ACEN RES in this important initiative. This transition to renewable energy for our common areas aligns with our commitment to providing our residents with a sustainable and environmentally responsible living environment,” said Shang Property Management Services head for property management Joseph Salting.

ACEN, the Ayala Group’s listed energy platform, is one of the fastest-growing renewable energy platforms in Asia Pacific, with the Philippines as its core and largest market, accounting for 35 percent of its capacity.