Media Release
December 21, 2022
Negros Oriental’s leading medical institution, Silliman University Medical Center Foundation, Inc. (SUMCFI), is greening its facilities by shifting to renewable energy through First Gen Corporation (First Gen), making it the first hospital on the island to be directly powered by geothermal energy from locally sourced clean power.
This decision of SUMCFI was largely influenced by Dr. Angel Alcala, a National Scientist who happens to be one of the Board of Directors of the Hospital and from its sister institution, Silliman University. The University is known for its strong environmental advocacy and is one of the few in the country to be 100% powered by renewable energy (RE). First Gen has been supplying RE to Silliman University since 2019.
“After carefully evaluating offers from various proponents, the board has decided to partner with First Gen which will be able to supply us with clean, renewable energy through geothermal power coming from our very own province here in Negros Oriental at a very competitive price,” said Engr. Emmanuel D. Abellanosa, Corporate Secretary and a member of the SUMCFI Board of Directors, said during the ceremonial signing.
The eight hundred kilowatt geothermal power supply will commence on January 26, 2023 and will come from First Gen’s 100% RE arm and leading geothermal provider, Energy Development Corporation (EDC), whose second largest geothermal facility is located in Valencia, Negros Oriental. Geothermal energy is considered the “Holy Grail” of RE technologies because – unlike other RE sources – it can provide uninterrupted, year-round baseload power, rain or shine. Thus, it is referred to by the company as Geo 24/7.
“We thank SUMCFI for giving us the same trust that its sister company, Silliman University, has also been giving us since the start of our partnership. It is an honor for us to provide our own brand of reliable, cost-competitive RE to a medical institution that is also considered as kasaligan (trustworthy) by its own patients and stakeholders,” said Gideon Adriel Butalid, head of EDC’s Market Planning and Contracts.
SUMCFI likewise signed up for a 15-year solar rooftop power purchase agreement and remote energy monitoring system with First Gen’s Pi Energy subsidiary.
EDC is First Gen’s 100% renewable energy subsidiary that has over 1,480 MW total installed capacity and accounts for 20% of the country’s total installed RE capacity. Its 1,185.40-MW geothermal portfolio accounts for 62% of the country’s total installed geothermal capacity, making the Philippines the third largest geothermal producer in the world. First Gen is the Philippines’ leading clean energy company. Aside from geothermal, First Gen’s portfolio of power plants runs on hydro, solar, wind, and natural gas, considered the cleanest form of fossil fuel. Email [email protected] to know more about switching to RE through First Gen.
