FREE and CEMEX sign long-term PPA for ground-mounted solar projects to help power cement manufacturing plants in the Philippines.
Cemex Philippines, a leading cement producer in the country, has signed a contract with Filinvest-ENGIE Renewable Energy Enterprise, Inc. (FREE) recently to develop a 10.08 MW ground-mounted solar system in Cemex’s facility in Apo Cement Plant in the City of Naga, Cebu.
Cemex’s facility at the Apo Cement Plant in the City of Naga, Cebu
This solar energy project is expected to avoid over 10,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions per year.
FREE is a joint venture company of FDC Utilities, Inc., the power utility arm of conglomerate diversified Filinvest Development Corporation and ENGIE Services Philippines, the local division of ENGIE, a global leader in low-carbon energy and services.
“This solar energy partnership is another milestone under Cemex’s Future in Action program, as we progress closer to our goal of reducing scope 2 emissions, coming from electricity sources that supply us with less than 24kg of CO2 per ton of cementitious product by 2030,” said Luis Franco, Cemex Philippines President and CEO.
“We are proud to partner with FREE, a company that shares our vision to address climate change through sustainable projects. This is a win not only for Cemex but also for the planet as we take concrete steps in making renewable energy the future of the industry,” Franco added.
FREE and Cemex executives during the signing ceremony for an agreement that would explore the implementation of various renewable energy and energy efficiency solutions. Photo shows (from left to right:) ENGIE Services Philippines General Manager Louella Caridad; FREE Director and ENGIE South East Asia CEO Thomas Baudlot; CEMEX Holdings Philippines President and CEO Luis Franco; FDCUI President and CEO Juan Eugenio Roxas; and CEMEX Holdings Philippines Procurement Director Juan Carlos Sotto.
In addition, Cemex and ENGIE have entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to explore the implementation of various renewable energy and energy efficiency solutions for Cemex’s facilities in the City of Naga, Cebu, to help the company advance its sustainability goals.
Juan Eugenio L. Roxas, President and CEO of FDCUI and subsidiaries, including FREE, said, “FREE and Cemex are poised to set new benchmarks in clean energy integration, signalling a transformative alliance that reflects a collective dedication to environmental stewardship and forward-thinking business practices. Filinvest and ENGIE, leveraging our combined expertise, are pleased to play an integral role in helping Cemex climb the sustainability mountain.”
The APO Cement 10.08 MW solar project, one of the biggest solar projects in Cebu Province, is the first collaboration between the companies and is part of Cemex’s global Future in Action program, under which the company focuses on developing lower-carbon products, solutions, and processes to become a net-zero CO₂ company by 2050.
Once completed this year, the solar facility will add to the carbon-free electricity sources that Cemex has been utilizing in its operations, and it will be the biggest user of solar energy among cement plants in the Philippines to date.
FREE and Cemex look forward to contributing to the Philippines National Renewable Energy Roadmap’s (2017-2040) target of 20 GW of installed renewable energy capacity by 2040 with this project.
About Cemex
Cemex is a global construction materials company that is building a better future through sustainable products and solutions. Cemex is committed to achieving carbon neutrality through relentless innovation and industry-leading research and development.
The company is at the forefront of the circular economy in the construction value chain and is pioneering ways to increase the use of waste and residues as alternative raw materials and fuels in its operations with the use of new technologies. Cemex offers cement, ready-mix concrete, aggregates, and urbanization solutions in growing markets around the world, powered by a multinational workforce focused on providing a superior customer experience, enabled by digital technologies. For more information please visit: www.cemexholdingsphilippines.com
About FREE
Filinvest-ENGIE Renewable Energy Enterprise, Inc. (FREE) is a special-purpose company established to finance, build, and operate renewable energy projects across the Philippines. Registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in November 2018, FREE is a joint venture between FDC Utilities, Inc. (FDCUI), the power utility arm of the Filinvest Group, and ENGIE Services Philippines. The company focuses on developing solar energy rooftop systems for Philippine customers. Its technology allows consumers to save up to 30% of their energy spend while reducing their carbon footprint and increasing grid reliability. FREE has multiple renewable energy projects in the pipeline to promote sustainable energy solutions to prospective industrial and commercial customers and support the Philippine government’s initiatives to reduce the country’s dependence on fossil fuels.