Schneider Electric switching to solar power

MANILA, Philippines — French energy management and automation firm Schneider Electric is transitioning its operations in the Philippines to clean energy with the installation of solar panels in its manufacturing plant in Rosario, Cavite.

“We are finalizing our investment to put up solar panels, so that we can start using renewable energy in our (manufacturing) plant,” Schneider Electric Philippines country president Ireen Catane told The STAR.

The installation of solar panels, which is expected for completion this year, is part of the company’s plan of transitioning to sustainability.

Catane said the company was supposed to rollout the solar panels in 2022, but the project is still awaiting approval from Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA).

“It’s a major investment, a long term investment,” Catane said.

According to Catane, Schneider Electric is moving into energy efficiency.

“We modernized our cooling system, so that we can start measuring our actual consumption,” she said.

She explained that cooling plays a significant part in the manufacturing plant.

“We are now measuring our cooling consumption to make sure that we optimize it so we can minimize or be more efficient with our energy consumption standpoint,” Catane said.

Schneider Electric is known for providing electrification and solutions to other companies on energy consumption through its various products.

The company has been operating in the Philippines for 26 years now and currently employs 3,375 Filipino workers. Currently, the company’s operations in the country cater to nine countries with an annual throughput value of one billion euros.