AMID talk of a looming energy crisis, food-manufacturing firm Mondelez Philippines Inc. (MPI) is expanding its use of renewable energy as part of its Go Green program, the company’s initiative to do business by doing good for the environment.
The MPI is supporting the government’s Interruptible Load Program (ILP), a program adopted by the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to ease the expected power shortage this summer. Under this program, companies enlisted for the program will use their generator sets for their own power use to ease demand on the Luzon grid.
According to Jojo Villanueva, MPI plant manager, Mondelez will use its own generator once they are asked by the DOE’s Distribution Utility (DU) to “deload” for particular hours when power demand reaches its peak. Deloading means the company will not rely on the grid for its electricity requirements.
Estrella Raquin, MPI safety, security and environment manager, said the company’s generators are capable to provide sufficient power for MPI’s plant and offices to operate.
“We expect to finalize the contract with DOE this March,” Raquin said. She estimated that the plant has a 1.5-megawatt monthly power consumption.
Villanueva said over a period of seven years, Mondelez reduced by as much as five per cent the company’s water and energy use as well as carbon emissions every year.
By collecting rainwater, adopting reverse osmosis and use of solar panels, the company has been able to save as much as 14.5 Olympic swimming pools of water and enough energy to light and run its plant for 4.3 months.
“Solartubes and solar panels that power perimeter lights and Mondelez’ corporate offices also reduced the company’s demand for electricity,” Villanueva explained.
In 2013, a Biomass Boiler was installed in its production plant in Parañaque. This system uses biodegradable and renewable “fuel” in the form of rice and coconut husks to generate steam to power the factory’s production process. Some products that MPI creates are powered by this biodegradable energy.
“Biomass Boiler has helped the company save carbon emissions equivalent to one year’s worth of emissions by 64 cars,” Villanueva said, basing calculations by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
“In the past year alone, our electricity savings from the use of the biomass boiler are worth the average annual consumption of 1 million households,” he added.
Mondelez Philippines Inc. is the former Kraft Foods Philippines and maker of Tang, Eden Cheese, Cheez Whiz, Oreo, Tiger Energy Biscuits, Toblerone, Halls, and Cadbury Dairy Milk.
