First Gen powers Japanese manufacturing facility in Cebu

First Gen Corp. has activated a solar rooftop project for the auto and industrial parts production facility of a Japanese multinational firm.

The Lopez-led firm said on Wednesday that the solar facility for NKC Group’s Cebu subsidiary is now operational, just in time as the Visayas region faces electricity issues.

Last June, First Gen said the agreement includes the deployment of a 1.84-megawatt-peak solar rooftop system for NKC Manufacturing Philippines Corp., a unit of Japan’s Nakanishi Metal Works Co. Ltd.

The deal likewise entails First Gen operating the technology for five years.

Tempering costs

NKC Phils. president Norihiko Matsuda earlier said that rising energy costs, especially as the plant consumes a lot of heat, had been biting into the company’s financials.

“We are building energy independence by choosing a path of resilience, sustainability and harmony with nature, which in turn reduces our carbon footprint and operational costs,” he said.

Founded in 1997, NKC Phils. is focused on the production of rubber seals, plastic and metal retainer, including sash rollers for windows and sliding doors for the global automotive and industrial sectors.

P160B through 2030

“We are committed to supporting them in achieving their decarbonization goals and ambition, helping them manage their power usage,” said Mark Malabanan, vice president at First Gen Energy Solutions.

First Gen has 31 renewable energy facilities that harness the power of solar, wind, hydro and geothermal heat.

The group is targeting to spend about P160 billion through 2030 as it aggressively positions itself in the renewable energy market.

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Gov’t spending yet to pick up pace

Aside from hydro and geothermal energy, the firm likewise seeks to deploy more solar energy farms.

For this year alone, the company has earmarked P41.7 billion in capital expenditures as it pursues a 2,000-megawatt pumped storage hydropower portfolio.

As it expands its clean energy portfolio, Indonesian energy giant PT Barito Renewables has taken interest in Energy Development Corp. (EDC), offering to acquire the firm for $5 billion.

But First Gen said there were “no plans” to let go of EDC anytime soon.