Footwear manufacturer Datian Subic Shoes Inc. has switched on a 3.06-megawatt-peak (MWp) rooftop solar power system across its two factories in the Subic Bay Freeport.

The move is expected to cut its dependence on grid electricity by more than 40 percent while reducing energy costs and carbon emissions.

The solar installation, developed and financed by renewable energy firm Berde Renewables, is among the largest rooftop solar projects undertaken by a manufacturing company in the freeport.

The project allows Datian, the Philippine manufacturing arm of Taiwan-based Datian Shoes, to generate a substantial portion of its electricity requirements without making an upfront capital investment.

The two solar systems have a combined capacity of 3.063 MWp, with 2.063 MWp installed at the company’s first factory and another 1 MWp at its second facility. The installations use 4,834 bifacial solar panels and 17 inverters.

The systems are projected to produce approximately four gigawatt-hours (GWh) of electricity in their first year of operation and more than 80 GWh over the 20-year agreement.

They are also expected to prevent about 3,232 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually, an environmental benefit the company estimates is equivalent to planting roughly 122,000 trees each year.

For Datian, which employs more than 5,000 workers in the Philippines, the shift to solar energy comes as manufacturers face mounting pressure to control electricity expenses, meet international sustainability standards and maintain reliable production operations.

Global footwear brands are increasingly requiring suppliers to demonstrate progress in reducing emissions across their supply chains. The new solar facilities will provide Datian with measurable renewable energy data to support its customers’ environmental reporting requirements.

On-site power generation is also expected to reduce the factories’ exposure to fluctuations in grid electricity during daytime operations. Such fluctuations have previously damaged equipment at Datian’s manufacturing facilities.

“Our customers expect us to be a reliable long-term partner, and that now includes powering our factories with clean energy,” Datian Subic Shoes Inc. President Vincent Chen said.

“This investment strengthens our position as a global supplier and reinforces our commitment to the local economy. Through our partnership with Berde, we did it without diverting capital from production,” he added.

Under a 20-year Build-Own-Operate-Transfer (BOOT) power purchase agreement, Berde Renewables financed, designed and constructed the solar installations. The company will also operate and maintain the systems throughout the contract period.

The arrangement provides Datian with a fixed electricity tariff, helping shield the manufacturer from energy price volatility and making its long-term operating expenses more predictable.

Construction proceeded despite challenging weather conditions during the July-to-September 2026 monsoon season. Berde reported completing the project with 35,550 work-hours and no lost-time injuries.

The installations were also designed to comply with local and international standards, incorporating solar modules, inverters, mounting structures and rapid shutdown systems.

Berde Renewables CEO Patrick Zhu said the project demonstrates how manufacturers can treat renewable energy as part of their broader business strategy rather than simply a means of reducing electricity bills.

“Datian treated energy as a strategic input, not a utility bill,” Zhu said.

“Manufacturers in the Subic Freeport compete on cost, delivery and, increasingly, on the emissions profile of what they ship. Datian is ahead on all three,” he added.

The solar project is expected to strengthen Datian’s competitiveness in international footwear manufacturing, where energy efficiency and environmental performance are becoming increasingly important considerations for global buyers.

It also highlights the growing role of privately financed renewable energy projects in helping Philippine manufacturers manage operating costs and transition toward cleaner production without diverting capital from their core businesses.

(MAIN PHOTO, L-R: Philip Roxas, Commercial Director, Berde Renewables; John Joseph Inton, Director, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA); Patrick Zhu, CEO, Berde Renewables; Vincent Chen, President, Datian Subic Shoes Inc.;
Zack Chang, HR Manager, Datian Subic Shoes Inc.; Atty. Jocelyn Alvarado, Corporate Secretary, Datian Subic Shoes Inc.;
Bong Mallillin, Asset Management and Operations Director, Berde Renewables; and Joel Foronda, Project Manager, Berde
Renewables, during the energization ceremony).