Sanyo Denki Philippines Inc., a subsidiary of Japanese multinational firm Sanyo Denki Co. Ltd., has tapped First Gen Corporation for supply of 100% renewable energy (RE) to drive its manufacturing facilities at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone in Zambales.Hirokazu Takeuchi (2nd from left), president and CEO of Sanyo Denki Philippines, and Jerome Cainglet, president and COO of First Gen subsidiary Energy Development Corporation, shake hands after signing an agreement for First Gen to supply electricity from an RE source to the manufacturing facilities of Sanyo Denki Philippines. Also in photo are Edmundo Minerva (left), Sanyo Denki Philippines division manager, and Carlo Vega, First Gen chief engagement officer

Under an agreement signed by Sanyo Denki Philippines and First Gen officials, the former will get 5,500 kilowatts of electricity from a geothermal power plant that First Gen subsidiary Energy Development Corporation owns and operates in Negros Oriental.

The power supply from First Gen will provide the electricity to run all four manufacturing facilities of Sanyo Denki Philippines as well as its technology center at the Subic Technopark inside the Subic Bay special economic zone. The agreement forms part of the long-term program of Sanyo Denki to shift its production sites to RE.

“We are pleased to start our partnership with First Gen which we believe is the best way to achieve our goal of using more renewable energy in our production, especially in light of our commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations. We also believe it is our obligation to provide our customers with products that are produced using renewable energy,” said Hirokazu Takeuchi, president and CEO of Sanyo Denki Philippines Inc.

First Gen and Pi Energy Inc. will also provide Sanyo Denki Philippines with a remote energy monitoring system that will enable it to see its power consumption on a real-time basis, thereby helping the company to rationalize and optimize power costs.

“Shifting a 24/7 operation to RE and rationalizing power consumption are challenges for manufacturing firms. It is our privilege to help enable and advise them on taking the next steps towards a more sustainable future for their operations.

We look forward to continuing the journey with Sanyo Denki Philippines and continue to integrate more RE and energy efficiency solutions into their facilities,” said Carlo Vega, First Gen chief engagement officer.

Sanyo Denki Philippines manufactures uninterruptible power supply devices, photovoltaic inverters, AC servo motors, AC servo amplifiers and stepping motors. Its Philippine manufacturing site is the main production site of Sanyo Denki DC cooling fans.