First Gen building solar plant for HCG manufacturing facility

First Gen Corp. of the Lopez Group 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.

First Gen said in a statement its agreement with HCG subsidiary Hocheng Philippines Corp. would not only reduce HCG’s carbon emissions, but would 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 inside the 10-hectare facility of HCG in Dasmariñas in Cavite a solar power plant with a 660-kilowatt (kW) capacity.

“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 four years ago.

This includes the objective to shift its power requirements to renewable sources.

HCG forged in 2020 a contract with First Gen for supply of 850 kilowatts of clean energy from the Bacon-Manito geothermal power plant in the Bicol region of First Gen subsidiary Energy Development Corp., the country’s largest producer of geothermal energy.

The contract is under the retail competition and open access (RCOA), a government program that empowers large consumers of electricity, like HCG, to choose their own power suppliers.

“We are honored to be part of the journey of HCG in the Philippines towards 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, First Gen assistant vice president for solar.

HCG traces its roots back to Taiwan, where it was founded in 1931 to address the growing demand for proper sanitation.

HCG has since then ventured overseas and expanded its portfolio to include bathroom fixtures and solutions that cater to different needs, market segments and facilities.

HCG established in 1997 the 10-hectare manufacturing plant at the First Cavite Industrial Estate in Cavite to complement its production bases overseas.

First Gen has the largest portfolio of plants that run on geothermal, wind, hydro and solar energy, which are all renewable resources; and on natural gas, the cleanest form of fossil fuel.

The company’s 33 power facilities have an installed capacity of 3,697 megawatts, making it also one of the country’s biggest independent power producers.