Largest PV Installation in the Philippines on Top of a Mall

Monsoon rains and the floods that followed the two typhoons that just passed didn’t stop Philippines’ retail store giant SM Supermalls from launching what is now the country’s largest rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) at SM City Fairview, less than 20 km from the capital of Manila.

Last Thursday, July 24, 2025, the clouds were gloomy and the rains kept coming down as executives from SM Prime turned the switch on for the new 3.785-megawatt peak (MWp) installation. The PV array demonstrated its immediate capacity to deliver clean energy, and according to CleanTechnica sources at Buzkowitz, the energy technology builder who installed and runs the array, it delivered at least 85 to 90 percent of its capacity — despite the challenging weather conditions. The solar rooftop underscores SM’s aggressive commitment to renewable energy and its ambitious “Net Zero 2040” goal.

The solar PV system covers 4.3 hectares of rooftop space with 6,882 solar power panels installed. It is projected to generate approximately 5,960 megawatt-hours (MWh) of clean energy annually to supply around 11 percent of SM City Fairview’s annual energy consumption, and is anticipated to offset 4,133 tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere each year.

“This milestone shows how we’re scaling our commitment to sustainability across our properties,” Hans T. Sy, Chairman of the Executive Committee of SM Prime, said in a press statement emphasizing his company’s broader focus on energy, water, and waste sustainability.

The development of the large-scale solar installation took approximately one year, with the panel installation phase completed in three months. SM Supermalls partnered with renewable energy solutions provider Buskowitz Energy for the project.

SM’s engagement with renewable energy began over a decade ago when SM City North EDSA installed the country’s first mall rooftop solar PV system in 2014. Following this, in 2016, SM Mall of Asia installed a solar power facility that, as of early 2025, has a peak capacity of 2.7 MW. This facility was recognized with a Sustainable Energy Award for a Private Institution by the Department of Energy. Utilizing solar energy helps SM Supermalls reduce its reliance on the power grid, particularly during periods of increased electricity demand.

As of July 2025, 88 SM Supermalls nationwide are equipped with solar panel systems. SM Prime’s total rooftop solar capacity currently stands at 73 MWp, an increase from the 63 MW capacity reported earlier in 2025 across 47 malls. The company aims to further boost this figure to 100 MWp by the end of 2025, a target that includes new installations, such as the SM City Fairview system which surpasses the previous largest at SM City Santa Rosa (3.088 MWp), as well as expansions of existing solar PV systems.

*Closeup of the solar panels on the roof. (Photo for CleanTechnica by DBET.)*

Beyond generating clean energy, the retail giant actively participates in the Philippine Department of Energy’s (DoE) Interruptible Load Program (ILP). Through this program, SM Supermalls provides a substantial 110 MW of power to communities nationwide, with over 56 malls currently participating by utilizing their generator sets during local power interruptions to help stabilize the grid. SM Mall of Asia is noted as the largest private sector contributor to the ILP, with a committed capacity of 15.92 MW.

Steven Tan, president of SM Supermalls, has consistently emphasized the company’s commitment to sustainability.

“SM Supermalls is committed towards contributing to build a sustainable future. We have made significant strides in clean energy regeneration, as well as water conservation and recycling, and solid waste management. With the continuous support of our partners and the communities where we operate, we believe we can truly reach our science-based goals towards Net Zero by 2040,” Tan said in his speech welcoming guests, including to the event.