SM City North EDSA in Quezon City is now the world’s largest solar-powered mall, after its rooftop solar power project was switched on last Monday morning, November 24.
The switch-on ceremony was led by President Benigno Aquino and SM Prime President Hans Sy at the rooftop of SM North’s multi-level car park, where the 5.760 solar panels are installed.
Solar Philippines, led by 21-year-old Leandro Leviste, partnered with SM Malls to build the solar panels that could generate up to 1.5-MW power. This is SM’s second solar power project after it installed a 1.1-MW project at its SM City Xiamen mall in China.
SM Supermalls President Annie Garcia said the 1.5-MW of electricity generated by the solar panels can power 16,000 light fixtures, 59 escalators and 20 elevators of SM North at the same time. This represents 5 percent of the mall’s total electricity requirements.
She said using the solar panels can generate up to P2 million in savings every month for SM North.