LUNTIAN at PULA - GREENING it with Maroon Pride, the UP Visayas takes a step closer towards promoting green energy through the installation of a 54kW Grid-Tie Solar Energy System at the UPV Regional Research Center (RRC) Building. This initiative is the largest and the first in UP Visayas, which supports the full-time operations of the various research facilities of the RRC Building, including the Regional Research Center (RRC), Philippine Genome Center (PGC) Visayas, Technology Transfer and Business Development Office (TTBDO), and the Socio-economic Research and Data Analytics Center (SERDAC) Satellite Facility. This solar energy system is funded by the 2023 General Appropriations Act with an approved budget of P3 Million Pesos, the project is set to be operational by the end of August 2024.
The system, featuring top-tier Bloomberg-rated PV panels, is expected to reduce the RRC's monthly power consumption by 60-70%. According to Engr. Vincent John Fuentes of the UPV RRC, the Top-Tier 1 Bloomberg-rated PV panels are topnotch. The panels are manufactured by solar companies listed in Bloomberg’s Tier 1 ranking that demonstrate increased solar efficiency.
Moreover, the location of the UPV RRC Building is very ideal for a solar PV system. It is situated on a high elevation within the University premises, offering an unobstructed view of the sea and excellent potential for harvesting solar energy throughout the day with no shading.
Furthermore, Asst. Prof. Mary Grace Sedanza, PhD, the current director of the UPV RRC, expressed that with UPV’s support in investing in renewable energy technologies, it could integrate solar and other forms of natural [green] energy sources into its facilities, which are powered by the local electricity grid. This could bring down the cost and hopefully pave the way to our transition into a clean, safe, and environment-friendly energy in the future.
As UPV continues to materialize its steps towards renewable energy, the completion of this solar PV system at the RRC becomes the prototype in promoting clean energy and innovation. This will put UPV at the forefront of a sustainable and #SDG7AffordableandCleanEnergy across the Western Visayas region, while continuously striving for honor, excellence, and service to the Filipino people.