FAST Logistics taps Buskowitz for solar-powered Cebu cold hub

Insider Spotlight

• FAST Logistics Group signed a 20-year power purchase agreement with Buskowitz Energy for its Cold Chain Hub Cebu
• A 779.96-kWp rooftop solar system is expected to supply up to 35 percent of the facility’s electricity requirements
• The project advances FAST’s commitment to achieve Net Zero by 2050 while reducing reliance on conventional grid power
  
  
  
  

FAST Logistics Group is accelerating its renewable energy transition through a partnership with Buskowitz Energy that will bring rooftop solar power to its cold-chain facility in Cebu.

Under a 20-year power purchase agreement, Buskowitz Energy will install and manage a 779.96-kilowatt-peak grid-tied solar photovoltaic system at the FAST Cold Chain Hub Cebu in Tayud, Consolacion.

Reduce carbon footprint

Cold-chain facilities are energy-intensive because refrigeration systems must operate continuously to maintain temperatures required for food, pharmaceuticals and other sensitive products. Solar generation can help FAST reduce both its dependence on conventional grid electricity and its carbon footprint.

The planned system will generate about 1.23 million kilowatt-hours of renewable electricity during its first year, covering up to 35 percent of the Cebu facility’s electricity needs.

1,300 solar panels

FAST will deploy around 1,300 solar panels across 4,500 square meters of rooftop space. A 24/7 online monitoring platform will allow the logistics company to measure actual solar generation and track the project’s contribution to sustainability targets.

Buskowitz Energy will handle installation and asset management, allowing FAST to use renewable electricity without directly owning and operating the solar assets.

Net Zero by 2050

The project supports FAST’s broader push to introduce renewable energy and efficiency measures across its logistics network. The company says it is the first Filipino-owned logistics company to publicly commit to achieving Net Zero by 2050.

FAST Cold Chain Hub Cebu, which opened in 2021, has 10,500 pallet positions and serves businesses across the Visayas. Its temperature-controlled logistics services support industries ranging from food and beverage and agriculture to quick-service restaurants, pharmaceuticals and vaccines.

The facility also provides flexible cold storage for MSMEs and local farmers, including short-term requirements involving volumes as small as two pallets.

FAST has more than 50 years of industry experience and provides transportation, warehousing, cross-docking, cold chain, toll manufacturing and other value-added supply chain services across the Philippines. —Vanessa Hidalgo | Ed: Corrie S. Narisma