• CHERYL G. CRUZ
The largest hotel in the highly-urbanized city, Citadines Bacolod, has partnered with First Gen Corporation (First Gen), the country’s leading renewable energy (RE) company, to power its rooms and facilities with geothermal energy.
“This is a very special occasion for First Gen…Citadines Bacolod is our first hotel customer in the Visayas”, that will use a 100 percent good and renewable energy,” Arlene Sy Soriano, First Gen’s head of Sales and Engagement, said at the agreement signing Sept. 16.
The agreement covers the supply of 800 kilowatts (kW) of geothermal power to energize the hotel’s rooms and facilities. Citadines Bacolod features 200 rooms, five amenity areas, five food and beverage outlets, a business lounge, meeting rooms, and a grand ballroom.
Citadines has leveled up its commitment in driving sustainability in their operations, Soriano said. “As a guest, I can enjoy and relax knowing that everything here is powered by renewable energy.”
Caleb Han, general manager of Citadines Bacolod City, said they are “always very serious about sustainability.”
He said he’s been struggling with high electricity cost since the hotel opened last year, and this shift to RE would help reduce that cost.
“Our partnership with First Gen allows Citadines Bacolod City to be powered by renewable energy, helping us reduce both our energy intensity and carbon footprint,” Han said in a statement, adding that “as part of The Ascott Limited, we are committed to upholding sustainability through eco-friendly operations and efficient energy consumption.”
Transitioning to RE and reducing carbon intensity is achievable for any business, and we remain committed to supporting our partners in optimizing their energy use, Soriano said. “First Gen’s mission statement is to forge collaborative pathways for a decarbonized and regenerative future. This mission cannot be accomplished by ourselves. We definitely need to collaborate and partner with like-minded customers, such as Citadines Bacolod.”
The geothermal power will be sourced from the Unified Leyte Geothermal Power Plant, owned and operated by Energy Development Corporation (EDC), a subsidiary of First Gen, the company said, adding that geothermal energy is the only renewable source capable of providing 24/7 baseload power, making it a reliable and sustainable choice for large-scale operations.
Through EDC, the First Gen group is the world’s largest vertically integrated geothermal company, with total capacity of 1,200 megawatts (MW). Its renewable energy portfolio also includes hydro, wind, and solar, with over 400MW of installed capacity.
In partnership with Prime Infrastructure Capital, First Gen also operates four gas-fired power plants, with a combined capacity of 2,017 MW. These facilities support baseload requirements and help offset the intermittency of renewable sources.
First Gen said the diversified portfolio of renewable and low-carbon energy assets plays a vital role in stabilizing power supply and enhancing energy security. | CGC
