Torre Lorenzo Development Corporation (TLDC), in partnership with COREnergy Inc. and Vivant Energy Corporation, is resorting to renewable energy by inaugurating the Lubi Sustainability Solar Farm at at Dusit Thani Lubi Plantation in Mabini, Davao de Oro on Monday.
COREnergy, which is the retail arm of Vivant Energy Corp, is engaged in the distribution of electricity/power, solar rooftops, and offers engineering services.
The Lubi solar farm has a peak capacity of 415 kilowatts and is projected to produce energy at 520,000 kilowatt hours.
The project is also expected to reduce 250 metric tons of carbon emissions each year.
“To put this number into perspective this solar farm’s annual energy production can power 220 households all year long,” said Michael Angelo H. Lasam, chief operating officer of COREnergy Inc.
Tomas P. Lorenzo, president and chief executive officer of TLDC, said the company will be able to save 20 percent from its energy consumption expenses.
“During the pandemic, it has been difficult for us to run this resort which is why we must get 20 percent savings from going solar so it’s really a big help. I hope to add more to bring it down,” he said.
Bobby Horrigan, founder and chief executive officer of Hospitality Management and Consultancy, said that when the cost of diesel went up to P80 during the pandemic, the resort was spending a few millions on its bills but now it has been able to bring it down to half and save at least P500,000.
“Our plan is to put batteries so that we’ll be 100 percent all solar,” he said.
Lorenzo said TLDC as a company is very much dedicated to sustainability which makes sense.
“We do it because it makes sense and that is why Vivant and COREnergy are our partners because it’s not our core business to do solar. When we look at the whole system to make it work, we need partners like them to give us that right amount of power,” he said.
Cathy Casares-Ko, chief operating officer of TLDC, said the operation of the solar farm is another milestone for TLDC.
She said this is the first but not the last TLDC development that will be powered by clean and renewable energy.
“We would like to think that this is a forward-thinking developer. We are constantly exploring new opportunities and innovative ways to operate and respond to the needs of our stakeholders. We are on an island. This is a leisure destination. Sustainable travel is one of the emerging trends, which we cannot ignore. Sophisticated global travelers are now looking for accommodations that embrace sustainability practices. But even before, we are not nakikiuso only for this trend, Lubi has already embedded sustainable practices in its designs and operations,” she said.
She said the solar farm strengthens and accelerates the best practices that are already in place.
Torre Lorenzo continues to grow with sustainability as a key business strategy.
“Through this solar farm we are doing our share in creating long-term value for future generations specially in Davao de Oro,” she said.
