Meralco targets to become coal-free from 2041-2050, eyes nuclear sources – exec

Merlaco First Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer Raymond Ravelo bares their plan to go coal-free from 2041 to 2050 during the Pilipinas Conference 2022, initiated by the Stratbase Albert Del Rosario Institute, held on Monday, November 21, 2022  . Photo from Jean. INQUIRER.net / Jean Mangaluz

MANILA, Philippines — Meralco is targeting to become coal-free from 2041 to 2050, possibly tapping nuclear sources as part of its strategy to achieve this goal.

This was according to the private electrical company’s First Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer Raymond Ravelo, who outlined their long-term sustainability plans during Pilipinas Conference 2022 at the Ayala Museum on Monday. Pilipinas Conference 2022 was initiated by the Stratbase Albert Del Rosario Institute.

During the discussion on the role of the private sector in sustainable and resilient economic growth, he spoke about the company’s three phases of sustainability which they named “Horizons.”

He said that from 2041 to 2050, Horizon 3 would have Meralco “drive deep decarbonization through various levers, such as hydrogen, carbon capture utilization storage, and ultimately our drive is to be coal free by the midpoint of this century.”

But for Horizon 2, Ravelo said Meralco aims to use nuclear sources from 2031 to 2040, as the firm plans to adopt clean technologies.

“We’ll see the acceleration of our green energy shift, through the assessment and adoption of next generation clean energy technologies such as battery energy storage systems, offshore wind, and nuclear, with a specific focus on small, modular reactors,” he noted.

From the powerpoint presentation of Meralco’s First Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer Raymond Ravelo

Currently, Meralco is implementing Horizon 1, which aims to initiate a low-carbon transition from 2021 to 2030. Ravelo said the company will invest more on renewable energy during this phase.

He also said that the company is guided by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, specifically the goal of providing affordable and clean energy, and that they have already taken solid steps towards clean energy.

“We in Meralco have actually taken this electric mobility transition to heart. We have deployed close to 128 or almost 130 electric vehicles across our sector offices and business centers,” he said.

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