With the inauguration of the largest rooftop solar photovoltaic project in Latin America, the city of San Pedro Sula, the industrial capital of Honduras, became a regional showcase in the use of renewable energy. The inauguration took place on Friday, March 20th, 2015 at the facilities of Embotelladora de Sula, SA (EmSula) and was presided by the country’s President, Juan Orlando Hernandez.
The project is part of EmSula’s efforts in seeking energy cost savings and a reduction of the country’s environmental pollution. The total project investment was US$23MM. The project was supported with a $US10MM credit line financing by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).
The solar panels cover an area of 35,000 square meters, with a production capacity of 3MW of power, providing 62% of the facility’s energy demand between 9:00 am and 3:00 pm, equivalent to 20% of total daily energy consumption demand. Roberto Larach, CEO of Corinsa Group which counts EmSula as part of its portfolio of food & beverage companies) stressed that the project will help reduce the country’s carbon emissions by 31,500 tons through a reduction in the need to import thousands of barrels of oil to feed thermal energy plants which will consequently also improve the foreign trade balance of Honduras.
In addition to reducing energy costs, the rooftop solar panels, which have a useful life of 25 years, will reduce the internal temperature of the facility, resulting in additional energy savings in the air conditioning system and offering improved employee comfort.
With this project, EmSula (which counts among its brands Pepsi, Aguazul, Enjoy, Lipton Tea, Gatorade, Mirinda, Link and the new Cool Malta) steps forward as an innovative company operating with cleaner, renewable, and affordable energy and sets both an example and a precedent for others in the region to follow.
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