BPI starts harnessing solar energy to power its branches
THE Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) has started getting part of its electricity requirements from the sun.
With its partner Solarus Partners Inc., BPI has begun generating part of its energy requirements from the 5-kilowatt (kW) solar-power systems installed in its branch along Ayala Extension and Metropolitan Avenue in Makati City. These panels are expected to produce some 6,200 kilowatt-hours of power a year.
“While this branch consumes about 20 kW of electricity a month, we installed only 5 kW to demonstrate that it [solar power] works. It’s our first branch, and we are the first bank to undertake such project to source electricity from the sun,” Florendo G. Maranan, BPI senior vice president and BPI Foundation executive director, told the BusinessMirror.
The electricity generated by the solar-power system is blended with that which is sourced from Manila Electric Co. (Meralco).
Since there is still room in the branch’s roof, Maranan said the current solar-power system could be expanded to generate up to 15 kW, which eventually could also power the branch’s air-conditioning units and automated teller machines.
Maranan said the investment in installing the solar panels might seem a little steep at around P100,000 to P150,000 per kilowatt. The period of recouping the initial cost is a lot shorter than what many think, he said.
Prior to the installation of the solar panels, Maranan said the Ayala Extension branch spent an average of P30,000 a month; with the solar panels, they now expect to generate P6,000 to P7,500 in monthly savings.
The BPI official said the solar-energy systems installed at the Ayala Avenue Extension branch are relatively small-sized. “Environmentally, the reduction in fossil-fuel dependence might seem like an insignificant figure, but we believe it still amounts to something when we talk about working toward a cleaner planet,” he said.
Next to the Ayala Extension branch, Maranan said they plan to install similar solar-power systems in critical areas that are not connected to main power grids, particularly in Boracay and El Nido in Palawan.
And on top of these three branches, Maranan said BPI President Cesar B. Consing now wants to have 400 of their more than 800 branches equipped with solar-power systems in two to three years. “While we may be able to equip 10 branches with solar panels by year-end, we would have to accelerate the program thereafter to meet our president’s targets,” he added.
Maranan said: “While Mr. Consing acknowledged the huge investment needed to roll out this project, he also pointed out the significant monthly savings it could bring to the bank, which could be used to provide more loans to consumers or companies, or to fund other similar sustainable development projects of the bank.”
Maranan said the solar-power program itself would be self-sustaining to roll out the project in their network of branches, while enhancing the bank’s ability to provide more loans to existing and potential clients.
Maranan made it clear the installations in the targeted 400 branches would vary relative to the suppliers. “I think we would have to bid out the project once we roll out the program to the targeted branches. At the same time, the branches would also have to be evaluated as some of them are inside establishments. We have to evaluate the feasibility; the stand-alone branches like the Ayala Extension branch will be the ones given top priority,” he said.
Maranan added that the BPI Ayala Avenue Extension branch was chosen primarily because of its location. It is not surrounded by tall buildings, sunlight can freely be absorbed by the solar panels. “It is also near the BPI Head Office so its performance will be easy to monitor. If successful, this endeavor might be replicated in other branches throughout the country,” he said.
As the Philippines has been identified as one of the countries that is most vulnerable to the effects of climate change, there is a pressing need for local businesses to adapt a more sustainable way of doing business. BPI’s pioneering effort in harnessing solar energy underscores the many ways through which companies could do their part in working toward a greener planet.
Renewable sources of energy, such as the sun, have long been proved to be cleaner and a more sustainable alternative to fossil fuel. It is estimated that the amount of sunlight that reaches the Earth could provide as much as 10,000 times more energy than the combined output of all the commercial power plants in the planet. This is roughly equivalent to about 6,000 times more than what the entire world needs.
“[With the solar panels,] we want to showcase the best green practices in a single branch so that we can demonstrate the benefits that can be derived from the strategy. In fact, this same branch will also be the pilot for our other “green” initiatives, such as light-emitting diodes [LEDs] signage, rainwater harvesting, and inverter air-conditioning units,” he said.
Maranan said they were looking at retrofitting their signage with LEDs to replace the existing fluorescent lamps. “For the LED project, we should be able to make a decision within the next six months,” he said.
Maranan added they are currently evaluating suppliers, and that they would be setting up a mock-up signage where each supplier would be given a chance to demonstrate its product.
The mock-up signage will be up next week, he said, and they hope to select a supplier by next month and roll out the replacement of fluorescent lamps with LEDs.
Maranan also revealed that they want to look into rainwater harvesting. “We will actually install a rainwater-harvesting facility here [Ayala Extension branch] also for general use, such as watering plants and for lavatories.
Over the years, BPI has embarked on other green initiatives, both at its head office and in its branches. The green initiatives ranged from paperless drives to energy-conservation efforts, such as installing energy-saving LED lighting systems and a “No Overtime Fridays” policy every second and fourth Fridays of the month.
No comments:
Post a Comment