Photo courtesy of Jollibee
BUSINESS

Jollibee commissaries run on RE

Maria Bernadette Romero

The Jollibee Group has partnered with Lopez-led energy firm First Gen Corp. (FGEN) to power its local commissaries with clean energy, aiming to boost operational reliability while reducing its environmental footprint.

The homegrown fast-food chain said Wednesday that FGEN is supplying 11 megawatts (MW) of electricity from its geothermal plants, cutting greenhouse gas emissions by more than 70 percent across the covered facilities.

“Switching our commissaries to 99 percent renewable electricity enables us to build a sustainable and reliable energy foundation for our growing operations. 

This transition reduces our environmental footprint whilst ensuring energy stability—benefits that are meaningful not only today but well into the future,” Michael Ong, President for Manufacturing and Logistics of the Jollibee Group, said.

The Group’s renewable efforts also include 17,000 solar panels installed in 2023 at its Paranaque and Laguna commissaries and distribution sites, along with a Remote Energy Monitoring System to optimize power use, completed in 2024.

FGEN Chief Customer Engagement Officer Carlo Vega welcomed the partnership.

“The shift to geothermal and solar electricity reflects the Jollibee Group’s disciplined approach to growth—investing in reliable energy systems that strengthen operations today and support expansion across its Philippine and global footprint. We are proud to support the Jollibee Group as it progresses in its sustainability journey. 

We look forward to our continued partnership as the group moves from sustainability and decarbonization to a regenerative future,” Vega said.

FGEN operates over 1,700  MW of renewable energy capacity from more than 22 geothermal, wind, solar, and hydro facilities nationwide. 

It also holds a 40-percent stake in four gas-fired power plants with a combined capacity of 2,017 MW, alongside majority owner Prime Infrastructure Capital, Inc.

Over the next five years, the company plans to expand its renewable and low-carbon portfolio to 13 gigawatts.