ADB Manila HQ now RE-powered

MANILA, Philippines - The main headquarters of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Manila is now 100-percent powered by renewable energy (RE).

The ADB has entered into a geothermal power supply agreement with AdventEnergy Inc., a licensed retail electricity supplier of Aboitiz Power.

The headquarters is now powered by 100 percent powered by renewable energy generated by geothermal plants in Tiwi in Albay province and Makiling-Banahaw in Laguna province, in addition to existing on-site solar power generation.

ADB vice president Bruce Davis said that as an institution, it is committed to expanding the use of renewable energy across Asia and the Pacific starting with its own headquarters.

“This agreement (with AdventEnergy) will allow us to cut our annual corporate carbon footprint by nearly 50 percent, with an emission reduction of more than 9,500 tons of CO2 (carbon dioxide) equivalent,” he said.

The supply contract with AdventEnergy will see ADB purchase an average of 1.5 million kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity a month.

This will be supplemented by about 50,000 kWh generated monthly from ADB’s rooftop solar panels.

“These two sources will meet the entire energy requirements of the headquarters building, where more than 2,600 staff and consultants work each day,” Davis said.

It also means ADB will no longer purchase electricity directly from the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco), although it will continue to use the company’s distribution network.

The move follows ADB’s decision to take advantage of electricity reforms in the Philippines, which allow large users to choose their power supplier.

The contract with AdventEnergy followed a competitive bidding process. It was picked as it was the only one to offer a large portion of its electricity generated from renewable sources.

The ceremony to mark today’s switchover to full renewable power is the centerpiece of ADB’s second “No Impact Week,” during which staff are encouraged to make work and personal lifestyle changes to reduce their carbon footprint and impact on the environment.

Clean energy has become one of ADB’s highest priorities, with over one fourth, or 27 percent, of the total approved loans in 2008 supporting projects with clean energy components.

ADB’s Clean Energy Program is multi-pronged. It seeks to increase regional energy efficiency in energy, transport and urban sectors; to adopt renewable energy sources; and to improve access to energy for the poor and remote regions - avoiding the use of traditional biomass.

The clean energy program seeks to meet energy security needs, facilitate a transition to a low-carbon economy, universal access to energy, and achieve ADB’s vision of a region free of poverty.

With high levels of confidence for clean energy investments, ADB’s Energy Policy targets the annual lending for related programs to $2 billion by 2013.