They are part of a growing number of schools shifting to renewable energy.
In a disclosure last May 18, ACEN Renewable Energy Solutions (ACEN RES) reported that the San Beda College Alabang (SBCA) has entered into a renewable energy supply agreement with the company.
Under which, they will be switching the entire campus operations to 100% renewable energy through the Retail Competition and Open Access (RCOA), marking a significant milestone in the institution’s move to environmental options to meet its sustainability hoald.
The RCOA is a government program that allows qualified electricity end-users to source their electricity from a licensed retail electricity supplier like ACEN RES, which enables them to negotiate the terms of their supply, including the option to switch to 100% renewable energy.
Hence, in this agreement, the SBCA will source its electricity from ACEN’s portfolio of solar, wind, and geothermal power plants across the Philippines — complementing the school’s existing on-site rooftop solar installations.
With this switch, the SBCA significantly reduces its environmental impact by avoiding more than 2,000 tons of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions annually — equivalent to the amount of carbon absorbed by approximately 100,000 trees in a year.
“At San Beda College Alabang, we believe that the most powerful lessons are those lived out in our daily operations,” said San Beda College Alabang Rector Rev. Fr. Gerardo Ma. De Villa, OSB. “By powering our campus with 100% renewable energy, we are showing our students that sustainability and excellence go hand-in-hand.”
He also noted that the partnership with ACEN RES allows the school to lead by example and prove that academic institutions can be “at the forefront of the global transition toward a cleaner, more sustainable future.”
Moreover, the 100% shift to renewable energy is also seen to provide operational efficiency, with the SBCA projecting annual savings of approximately PHP 8 million in energy costs — with the savings to be reprogrammed toward academic programs and student services.
The move also aligns with the Catholic Church’s call for ecological conversion, as articulated in the late Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’ that urged institutions to take concrete action against climate change.
“We are happy to welcome San Beda Alabang into our growing community of partner schools, colleges, and universities that have trusted us with their renewable energy supply,” said Tony Valdez, Senior Vice President for Market Transformation and Retail at ACEN.
“As an academic institution, SBCA has an important role to play in shaping the mindset of the next generation of electricity end-users — molding them into responsible consumers who are also concerned about the impact of their choices on society and the planet.”
ACEN RES is is the retail electricity unit of ACEN, the Ayala group’s listed energy company and one of the fastest-growing renewable energy companies in Asia Pacific.
It is currently the leading green energy supplier in the Philippines, with a market share of 65% according to official data from the Philippine Electricity Market Corp. (PEMC).
ACEN RES also has a significant presence in Australia, Vietnam, India, and Lao PDR, along with strategic investments in Indonesia and other markets, with the company currently having over 7 GW of attributable renewable energy capacity spanning projects in operation, under construction and with signed agreements.
The company, which servers as a developer, builder, and operator, has 100% renewable energy generation and aims to achieve Net Zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.