Business Mirror
Written by : Published : Wednesday, June 06, 2012 00:00
With energy demand projected to almost double in the Asia-Pacific region by 2030, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) said that there is an urgent need to find renewable sources to generate power while at the same time reducing harmful greenhouse gas emissions.
ADB added that almost 700 million people in the region still have no access to electricity and lack of access to reliable energy holds back economic development in many parts of the region.
The bank’s investment in clean energy and energy efficiency projects had also increased in recent years. Between 2008 and 2011, ADB’s investment in such projects amounted to about $7 billion.
ADB also supports solar energy development through its Asia Solar Energy Initiative. Launched in May 2010, the initiative aims to develop and generate 3,000 megawatts of solar power in Asia-Pacific region within three years.
With this, ADB on Tuesday inaugurated a new rooftop solar power project composed of 2,040 photovoltaic (PV) panels that would provide about 3.5 percent of its headquarters’ electricity needs.
ADB President Haruhiko Kuroda led the opening of the PV panels that occupy the 6,640 square meter roof of the bank’s main building in Mandaluyong City.
Kuroda said that the PV panels could generate 613 megawatt hours of electricity per year or could power the homes of about 250 families a year.
The project is also the largest roof-mounted installation in the Philippines. The energy provided by the plant will supplement the utility energy of ADB, thereby reducing the institution’s electric bill.
The solar power project could also run a portion of the ADB’s air conditioning, lighting and computer systems, reducing its carbon footprint.
“We want this project to showcase how building in Asia could reduce carbon footprints,” Kuroda said.
Through the project, ADB also hopes that other companies will be inspired and follow its efforts on energy efficiency.
The solar rooftop project received support from Philippine government agencies, such as the Department of Energy, the local government of Mandaluyong, the Manila Electric Co., the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
The project was built by Propmech Corp., a Filipino-owned company engaged in marine engineering and solar power generation.
“We take a lot of pride in being part of this huge project because it proves once more that Filipino companies are very proficient and tech-savvy,” said Helen Tong, Propmech chief operating officer. She said that the project is also a big step forward for the Philippines and Asia in adopting solar or renewable energy technology.
“We are very positive that the ADB solar power plant will pave the way for other businesses, organizations and households to follow,” Tong added.
Propmech partnered with Suntech Power Co. Ltd., the largest manufacturer of solar modules in the world, in installing, maintaining and operating the ADB’s solar power generating facility.
“[The project] is a critical milestone of the growth of solar energy in the Philippines,” said Zhengrong Shi, chairman of SunTech. source
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