By Aljon P. Tugaoen

Aggressively transforming the National Bioenergy and Innovation Center as a model renewable energy-sufficient building, the Mariano Marcos State University partnered with Philippine National Oil Company-Renewables Corporation (PNOC-RC) for the installation of a 40-kWh solar panel in the building.

On Friday, October 7, university officials met with key personnel of PNOC-RC and Equator’s Energy Corporation, the official supplier of the solar panel, to discuss the solar demonstration project sponsored by the Philippine Department of Energy. Present were MMSU research director Bjorn Santos, NBERIC chief for research and innovation Thomas Ubiña, project leader Nathaniel Ericson Mateo, PNOC-RC representatives Engr. Viel Renzo Aguila and Engr. Ryan Caezar Perdido.

The meeting included the overview of the solar panel equipment and the securing of work permit to begin its installation. This is in addition to the existing 10-kWh solar panels situated at the rooftop of NBERIC building.

Engr. Ubiña said the project furthers MMSU’s Net Zero Energy campus goal. He also shared that the project will provide training for students of Professional Science Master’s in Renewable Energy Engineering on the installation and maintenance of solar panel equipment.

MMSU President Shirley C. Agrupis thanked the DOE and PNOC-RC for materializing the project that was vowed in 2021. “It will be a lot of work, but this advances the university’s goal to become a net zero energy campus,” PSCA beamed.

MMSU houses the National Bioenergy Research and Innovation Center (NBERIC) advocating the development and optimal use of bioenergy.

Net Zero Energy Buildings (NZEB) are designed and built to consume as little energy as possible, capable of producing energy to meet or exceed their requirements to run. (HLY/JVBT, StratCom)