Mapúa University, ACEN RES ‘engineer’ a sustainable future in education with renewable energy

Mapúa University, the Philippines' premier engineering and technological school, and ACEN Renewable Energy Solutions (ACEN RES), the retail arm of ACEN, the listed renewable energy company of the Ayala group, have forged a partnership to supply the university’s campuses with 100% renewable energy.

​Under the partnership, ACEN RES will power Mapúa Manila and Mapúa Makati campuses with sustainable power from ACEN’s portfolio of solar, wind and geothermal assets. By doing so, the schools avoid approximately 350 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions monthly.

To celebrate the switch, ACEN RES awarded Mapúa with its “Powered by Renewable Energy” badge, a proprietary symbol of recognition given exclusively to companies and institutions that are committed to 100% renewable energy adoption. The ceremony, held in Intramuros, was attended by students, faculty members, and key Mapúa and ACEN leaders.

This collaboration was made possible through the Green Energy Option Program (GEOP), a government initiative to promote renewable energy. The program enables electricity end-users with a minimum monthly peak demand of 100 kilowatts to contract renewable energy supply from any licensed supplier like ACEN RES, while maintaining the same physical connection to their distribution utility’s power lines. This way, GEOP end-users can tap renewable energy without having to spend on additional equipment like rooftop solar panels, since the power is generated at scale by renewable energy plants and delivered to end-users through the grid.

Dr. Dodjie S. Maestrecampo, president and CEO of Mapúa University, stated that the transition to renewable energy aligns with the university's values and its mission to build a sustainable future. He also highlighted that this move supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 13 (Climate Action).

Tony Valdez, senior vice president and head of market transformation at ACEN, emphasized the shared vision of sustainability that underpins the partnership. ACEN, with a goal to reach 100% renewable energy generation by 2025, is dedicated to delivering clean, reliable and affordable power.

In May 2025, Mapúa Malayan Colleges Laguna (Mapúa MCL) in Cabuyao, Laguna, one of Mapúa University’s campuses, also partnered with ACEN RES to transition its entire campus to 100% renewable energy.

Mapúa University, recognized as one of the top universities globally and in Southeast Asia, is taking a significant step towards becoming one of the greenest campuses in the country through this partnership.