The Philippines’ agricultural industry has been facing several challenges in recent times. From an environmental standpoint, growing produce and poultry has generated at least 12,872,840 tonnes of carbon emissions each year according to the World Bank’s statistics. Other than having a massive carbon footprint, overhead costs to maintain and run a farm are colossal as well. To top it off, the rate of city developments and deforestation has significantly reduced the availability of arable land to only 18.75% in the country, according to the World Bank
With this in mind, sustainable solutions and renewable energy advocate, Buskowitz Energy, aspires to help curb the country’s carbon emissions from the agriculture sector, power farms with clean and cost-efficient energy sources, and promote the use of rooftop photovoltaic installations.
In an effort to encourage circularity in more farms nationwide–which will help lower the carbon footprint and cost of electricity generated by daily operations–the company has started by powering three poultry manufacturers and their farms with Buskowitz’s Build-Operate-Lease-Transfer (BOLT) program. Through BOLT, businesses are given the opportunity to go solar with little to no upfront cost. Buskowitz Solar—the primary division of Buskowitz Energy—builds the installation, operates, and at the end of the lease period, gives ownership to the client while still being available for maintenance and operation.
Under this program, food manufacturers pay a rate per kilowatt hour that is lower than the published rates of local energy power suppliers. The three poultry farms enjoying the benefits of the BOLT package are: ESU Jasaan with a 90.2 kilowatt-peak installation in Tulugban, Bukidnon; E&M Hatchery, also located in Bukidnon, which is operating with a 70.13 kilowatt-peak solar system; and Cal’s Poultry Farm in Roxas City, Capiz, which is powered by the sun with a 100 kilowatt-peak rooftop installation.
The total capacity and energy generated by the three solar installations has saved 2,434 pounds of coal from being burned, 249 gallons of gasoline from being consumed, and 5,481 miles from being driven by a car. The carbon sequestered is equivalent to planting 2.8 acres of Philippine forests and 36.5 tree seedlings over ten years. The positive environmental impacts these have will grow even more once operating for a longer period of time.
Chief Executive Officer, James Buskowitz shares, “We hope that by going solar, more farms and broilers will be able to reduce their carbon emissions. We not only want to save the environment, but also want to help lower overhead costs for produce and poultry farms through the BOLT program–which will also assist in improving the quality of life of our farmers. If more agricultural farms adopt the use of solar, perhaps in the long run, we’ll feel these effects by seeing lower food costs, and create greenconscious farmers who will help shape the future of the food industry.”
Buskowitz, who strongly advocates that solar installations shouldn’t be set-up on arable land, continues, “Above all else, we take pride in utilizing rooftop solar photovoltaic installations, especially when it comes to farming–be it for poultry or produce. With only 18% of the Philippines lands left for agriculture, we encourage our business partners in all industries to install on their roof.”
It is estimated that putting solar on every roof in Metro Manila would be enough to power the entire Philippines. Some solar farms require 500 acres of land to electrify communities. These 200,000 solar panels are occupying what could have been used for agricultural production and farming.
The benefits of harnessing the power of the sun and strategically installing on rooftops goes beyond lowering costs. Sustainability is the true bottom line and sustainable development is the common future, where the needs of this generation must be met without compromising the needs and growth of future generations. For more information on how to power a home or business with rooftop solar photovoltaic installations, call Buskowitz Energy at 8801 0074 or email info@buskowitz.com.
About Buskowitz Group
Buskowitz Group is a sustainable solutions corporation seeking to provide renewable energy alternatives in the Philippines. The company’s sole purpose is to grow local capabilities in the solar photovoltaic industry, thus providing engineering, design, procurement, integration, and construction services. Today, seven years into fighting towards a low carbon future, a total of 142 installations have completed around the archipelago. Buskowitz aspires to go beyond rooftop installations and aims to accelerate the country’s development towards renewable energy.
