First Gen Corporation, through subsidiary Energy Development Corporation (EDC), has begun supplying The Linden Suites with power from its geothermal plants for the multi-use hotel’s entire electricity needs under the government’s Green Energy Option Program (GEOP).
The Linden Suites said EDC began supplying the hotel with renewable energy (RE) on March 26, the day of this year’s Earth Hour, while the partnership agreement between the parties was signed on Friday. The deal makes The Linden Suites the first hotel in the country to go all-RE.
“By joining the GEOP, The Linden Suites now boasts of avoiding 1,203 tons of carbon dioxide emissions, which is equivalent to 123,000 gallons of gasoline and about 18,000 tree seedlings cultivated over a ten-year period,” The Linden Suites general manager Ma. Celeste Romualdo said in a statement
“Our group’s goal of a decarbonized and regenerative future requires a major shift – one that needs the participation of different stakeholders. Among these stakeholders, our customers play a role,” said First Gen Vice President for power marketing, trading and economics Carlo Vega.
Meanwhile, Aboitiz Power Corporation bagged its first GEOP customer after signing a partnership agreement with Vita Tropic Ice Company, Inc., an ice manufacturing company in Malabon City. The partnership also began on March 26.
“As responsible citizens, we must ensure that in everything that we do, we do it with utmost regard to what effects it has on our environment, which is why we are very proud to be one of the first GEOP customers in the country today. Through concrete solutions that use the best practices, our partnership built on trust and shared values give us the power to create meaningful impacts to build a better world for a cleaner and more sustainable future,” said David Co, Vita Tropic’s business development head.
“We at AboitizPower fully support GEOP, as we believe it’s a key driver of renewable energy in the Philippines. This gives more customers the option and opportunity to join the movement towards a sustainable energy transition. We’ve been looking forward to the implementation of GEOP and now that it’s finally happening,” said AboitizPower SVP for Commercial Operations Juan Alejandro Aboitiz.
Back in March, Ayala-led ACEN announced that it has registered its first batch of GEOP customers.
Launched in 2018, the GEOP was established in accordance with Section 9 of Republic Act 9513 or the RE Act of 2008. It acts as a voluntary mechanism that allows contestable consumers to source their power supply from qualified RESs that source electricity from RE.