^{In photo: (L-R) First Gen Energy Solutions Technical Services Head Ed Del Rosario; Nilo Siongco, Jollibee Group Head of Manufacturing for the Philippines; CEBECO 2 General Manager Lowell Belcina and Technical Services Head Dominador Binghay; Julius Leyba, Jollibee Group Philippines Head of Engineering and Danao Commissary Head Richard Perez; and First Gen Energy Solutions Head of Solar and Commercial Business Development Mark Malabanan} 

The Jollibee Group‘s Danao Commissary in Cebu is now operating on 99% renewable energy, supported by a combination of on-site solar generation and geothermal power supplied by the First Gen Group.

The facility, inaugurated in January 2026, is the Jollibee Group’s largest production hub in the Visayas-Mindanao region, supplying products for brands including Jollibee, Chowking, Mang Inasal, Red Ribbon, and Burger King.

A rooftop solar facility developed and operated by First Gen provides part of the commissary’s electricity requirements. The installation consists of more than 3,900 solar photovoltaic panels with a total capacity of 2.8 megawatt-peak (MWp), making it among the first manufacturing plants in the Philippines to incorporate solar power into its design and construction from the outset.

The solar facility is complemented by 1,000 kilowatts of geothermal power sourced from the Bac-Man geothermal power plant, enabling the commissary to maintain operations while reducing exposure to fuel supply disruptions and volatile energy prices.

According to the company, the renewable energy setup has helped cut greenhouse gas emissions by more than 70% while keeping electricity costs stable.

The solar project was already fully operational before the facility’s official inauguration, reflecting the Jollibee Group’s push to integrate sustainability measures into its manufacturing expansion plans under its “Joy for Tomorrow” agenda.

“Manufacturing & Logistics focus is on energy and water consumption, waste reduction in materials and plastic, and recycling. Danao is the first site in Jollibee Manufacturing and Logistics with installed solar panels on Day 1. It is not a standalone program but a part of our day-to-day activities and success measure,” Jollibee Group and First Gen said in a joint statement.

The company said its shift toward renewable energy began in 2023 with solar installations across four Luzon manufacturing and logistics sites.

“Launched in 2023 across four Luzon sites, JG M&L’s solar initiatives kicked off our shift to renewables. The Danao solar project confirms that carbon footprint reduction is embedded into the M&L expansion strategy,” the statement read.

For First Gen, the Danao project demonstrates the growing role of renewable energy in supporting industrial operations amid energy security concerns.

“The solar installation in Danao is among the fastest in the industry—with preparation work starting in September 2025 and initial energization by mid-January 2026,” said Mark Malabanan, vice president and head of solar and commercial business development at First Gen Energy Solutions.

“It was our privilege to work with the Jollibee Group on this laudable initiative to power its major VisMin manufacturing hub with 99% RE which has helped mitigate fuel supply risks and pressures,” he added.

The partnership builds on earlier renewable energy projects between the two companies. In 2023, First Gen was tapped to install 17,000 solar panels with more than 9 MW of capacity across Jollibee commissaries and distribution facilities in Parañaque and Laguna. The projects were completed in 2024.

Aside from the solar facilities, First Gen currently supplies a total of 11 MW of electricity to the Jollibee Group’s manufacturing and logistics facilities nationwide.

What are your thoughts on the growing adoption of on-site renewable energy systems by large industrial and food manufacturing facilities in the Philippines? Join the discussion.

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