Ateneo
gets 400+KW solar power, the biggest in Mindanao
More than 400 KW Solar
Power will now be supplying a part of the energy needs of the Ateneo de Zamboanga
University (AdZU).
Solar panels installed in increments starting in 2015 in both the AdZU Salvador
Campus in La Purisima and the Kreutz Campus in Tumaga, will provide the solar power
worth almost P40M,
making it the biggest of its kind
in Mindanao.
On March 10, 2017,
the solar energy project will be formally turned over to AdZU by Orion
International, Inc., a renewal energy installations company. Simple turn-over
rites will be held at 3:00 in the afternoon at the Carlos Dominguez Conference
Hall, LRC Building at the Salvador campus in La Purisima, this city.
Expected to attend
the turnover ceremonies are AdZU officials led by AdZU President Fr Karel San
Juan, SJ, Rynor Jamandre, president of OrionGroup/Quantity Solutions Inc;
representatives from project financier Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), government
officials, media and members of the academic community.
“The renewable-energy
project is one of the University’s ways of being environment-friendly, by being
less reliant on non-renewable energy sources,” pointed out Fr San Juan. The
solar energy system helps the environment by decreasing harmful greenhouse gas
emissions equivalent to 410 metric tons of Carbon Dioxide per year.
The project is also
believed to be not only environment-friendly, but will also help the university
save millions in electricity bills. “The
solar power project will be generating savings of some Php4M annually,” Fr San
Juan stated. The savings will come from reduced electricity costs since AdZU still sources some of its power needs from the
local electric cooperative, and from the high diesel consumption from
generators, Fr San Juan added.
AdZU entered into contract for the Solar Power Project
with Orion in 2015, and obtained financing from BPI in the same year.