Energy & Sustainability

PLDT doubles down on renewable energy push as oil prices soar

PLDT doubles down on renewable energy push as oil prices soar

Philippine telco PLDT and its wireless arm Smart said on Friday it's doubling down on measures to lessen operational reliance on fossil fuels in light of the impact of the Middle East on global oil prices.

PLDT and Smart said they have been investing in renewable energy sources and more energy efficient network technologies since 2021 in a bid to cut operational emissions from fuel and electricity use by 40% in 2030, working from a 2019 baseline.

With global oil prices surging and energy markets disrupted by the escalating conflict in the Middle East, those efforts are now paying off by boosting the telco’s energy security and operational resilience, said Menardo “Butch” Jimenez, Jr, PLDT’s COO and network head.

“Our strategic focus on greening and modernizing our network operations have been crucial in strengthening our readiness, especially at this time of global uncertainty,” he said in a statement.

To date, PLDT and Smart said 27 major sites nationwide now run on 100% clean energy, while five facilities in the Visayas have installed solar rooftops.

Meanwhile, Smart has adopted an AI-powered green radio solution that allows network sites to automatically scale power consumption based on real-time demand. Smart said the solution has lowered energy use by more than 10,000 megawatt hours in a single year.

PLDT also said its participation in the Retail Aggregation Program through MPower, the local electricity supply arm of power company Meralco. adds another layer of resilience by allowing multiple PLDT and Smart facilities to consolidate their energy requirements, gain access to renewable sources, and secure more stable electricity pricing.

PLDT also pointed to its sustainable financing initiatives – such as Smart’s recent PHP2 billion (US$33.3 million) green loan from Metrobank to support expansion of its 5G network with an emphasis on energy efficiency – as part of its philosophy that decarbonization must be embedded in investment decisions.

PLDT also obtained a green loan from Metrobank valued at PHP4 billion in May 2024 to expand the reach of its fibre network. Earlier that year it secured a green loan from HSBC to support the upgrade of its network from copper to fiber (the rationale being that fibre networks are more ‘green’ than copper because they use less electricity).

PLDT said it will continue to pursue more supply agreements to expand and increase share of renewable energy in its overall power mix.



More Articles you may be Interested in...