Big E Food Corporation,the  manufacturer of popular “Lemon Square” baked goods and snacks, has energized a 1.685 megawatt-peak (MWp) rooftop solar installation at its Meycauayan, Bulacan manufacturing plant through Berde Renewables, marking a shift toward long-term clean energy sourcing for one of the country’s major baked goods producers.

The system is covered by a 25-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) under a Build-Own-Operate-Transfer model, allowing Big E to adopt solar power with zero upfront capital expenditure while locking in long-term energy cost visibility amid continued electricity price volatility.

Big E said energy costs remain a significant operating concern as it scales production. The company expects the shift to solar to reduce exposure to fluctuating power prices and improve cost stability across its manufacturing operations.

“Big E has been a cornerstone Filipino brand for decades. Partnering with them to power Lemon Square’s production with clean energy is exactly the kind of impact Berde was built for – helping Philippine manufacturers cut costs and decarbonize without spending a single peso upfront,” said Morris Zhou, Group CEO and Co-Founder of Berde Renewables,

Big E leadership said the move aligns operational efficiency with sustainability objectives.

“Our focus has always been to deliver products that Filipinos love—products that are part of everyday life. By investing in solar energy with Berde Renewables, we lower energy costs but also move towards sustainability and doing good for the planet and its future,” said Ernesto “Errol” S. Vergel de Dios, Big E chairman and founder.

According to Berde Renewables, the installation is projected to cut around 1,166 tons of carbon emissions annually, equivalent to planting roughly 53,000 trees each year.

The Meycauayan project adds to Berde’s expanding distributed solar portfolio across the Philippines and the region. The company, backed by global infrastructure investor I Squared Capital, reports 127.53 MW of closed projects under signed PPAs, with 37.17 MW already energized and 68.49 MW under construction. 

Another 21.82 MW is slated for the next phase, alongside a 200 MW development pipeline spanning the Philippines and Thailand.

How significant is rooftop solar under long-term PPAs in reshaping industrial power costs in the Philippines—and will more food manufacturing players follow Big E’s move?

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