SM Green Movement hits 100 MW solar milestone; claims to be among highest in industry

Editor’s note: This press release is sponsored by SM Prime Holdings Inc., and was handled by BrandRap, the sales and marketing arm of Rappler. No member of the news and editorial team participated in the publishing of this piece.

SM Prime Holdings Inc. (SM Prime) has recently achieved its highest peak of solar power generated as it switched on the latest of the group’s solar photovoltaic (PV) installations at SM North EDSA.

A total of 59 SM Prime properties now have rooftop solar power systems that collectively generate 100 MW of clean energy — a feat that SM Prime says is among the largest capacities generated by a property developer in the Philippines. By hitting its peak solar power capacity target for 2025 before wrapping up the year, SM showcases its unrelenting commitment to innovation and efficiency in rolling out its clean energy efforts. 

“Clean energy becomes truly powerful when people feel its benefits where they live, work, and gather. What SM Prime has achieved sends a clear message: Sustainability can be accessible, visible, and part of daily life. We in the Department of Energy (DOE) are proud to work alongside companies that take the initiative to build a healthier and more energy-secure future for all Filipinos,” said Energy Secretary Sharon Garin. 

“Part of the SM Group’s commitment as an integrated property developer is ensuring that sustainability is ingrained across all our efforts in pursuit of a greener future. This means on top of continually providing comfortable mall experiences to our customers, we also prioritize implementing ways to lessen the environmental impact of our business for shared good,” said SM Supermalls president, Steven Tan.

How far can 100 MW go?

100 MW is the amount of energy needed to power about 43,000 homes — the equivalent of a city the same size as Mabalacat in Pampanga or Mandaue in Cebu, with almost 300,000 + individuals. That energy can be used to power 206,000 household inverter air conditioner units, 486,000+ LED bulbs with a wattage of 30-watts for 12 hours, and charge 41.3 million phones.

100 MW is also more than enough to power 62,000 electric vehicles or 800,000 units of 50W street lights that can cover the 35,000-kilometer-long Philippine National Road Network per year.

Within SM, this could power 12,400 escalators and even the whole of SM North EDSA independently for two years straight.

Bigger benefits for the environment, community

In terms of environmental impact, the positive effect of 100 MW of clean energy generated is no small matter either.

Generating 100 MW of power through a typical coal plant produces ash waste on top of an estimated 130,000 tons of harmful carbon emissions released into the atmosphere annually. That’s the same amount of carbon emissions as a long stretch of cars running from Metro Manila to Tarlac emits in a year. Removing that amount of carbon emissions will take 5 million mature trees.

By utilizing its rooftop solar PV installations, SM Group avoids generating 97,200 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually.

Leading an influential approach to sustainability, SM also involves education and advocacy by working with private sector partners, customers, and local communities. Through this, SM ensures that environmental best practices are widely shared and adopted, sustaining collective good and broadening the impact of its efforts.

“We remain committed to building malls that operate sustainably, caring for people and for the planet. Our earnest hope now is to be of greater service to Filipinos, paving a way to a future that shines brighter than the sun,” said Tan. – Rappler.com