Mark Malabanan (3rd from left), AVP for solar of First Gen, and Eugene Lin (4th from left), SVP and OIC of HCG Philippines, during the contract signing. Also in photo are (from left) Chloe Kayanan, First Gen senior power marketing manager; Arlene Soriano, First Gen power marketing head; Mornaliza Belardo, HCG Philippines AVP for operations; and Elden Wu, HCG operations managerFirst Gen Corporation has signed an agreement with the Philippine subsidiary of HCG, the Taiwan-based global bathroom solutions provider, to build a solar power facility for the HCG unit’s manufacturing plant in Cavite.

The agreement reached recently by First Gen and Hocheng Philippines Corporation (HCG Philippines) will not only reduce HCG’s carbon emissions, but will also help it save on electricity expenses.

First Gen, together with sister company Pi Energy Inc., will help achieve HCG’s twin goals by committing under the agreement to construct a solar power plant with a 660-kilowatt (kW) capacity inside the 10-hectare facility of HCG in Dasmariñas, Cavite.

“Our goal is to pursue excellence in building healthy, highly efficient and cost-saving products. We build better designs to reduce our overall impact on the environment and support sustainable development. Over the years, we have completed several initiatives that contribute to our decarbonization objectives and we are committed to using green energy,” said Eugene Lin, HCG Philippines senior vice president and officer-in-charge.

The agreement to construct the solar power plant represents First Gen’s deepening collaboration with HCG following the popular bathroom fixture brand’s decision to pursue a decarbonization program. Started four years ago, the program includes the objective to shift HCG’s power requirements to renewable sources.

As part of the shift, HCG forged in 2020 a contract with First Gen for supply of 850 kW of clean energy from the Bacon-Manito geothermal power plant of First Gen subsidiary Energy Development Corporation.

The two companies forged the supply contract, which remains current, under the Retail Competition and Open Access, a government program that empowers large consumers of electricity to choose their own power suppliers.

“We are honored to be part of the journey of HCG in the Philippines toward a decarbonized and regenerative future, and we look forward to a growing partnership to lower HCG’s carbon emissions by using clean energy to power operations and integrating energy efficiency solutions,” said Mark Malabanan, assistant vice president for solar of First Gen.

Story by: Joel Gaborni