Foremost and Coca-Cola announce substantial completion of solar PV system

Foremost and Coca-Cola announce substantial completion of solar PV system

117-kilowatt (kW) DC solar photovoltaic (PV) system to replace around 15% of current Foremost and Coca-Cola monthly power consumption with renewable energy

(BARRIGADA HEIGHTS, Guam, Sept. 19, 2023)—Foremost Foods, Inc. (Foremost), Coca-Cola Beverage Co. (Guam), Inc. (Coca-Cola), the leading non-alcoholic beverage companies on Guam and in Micronesia, and IP&E Holdings, LLC., a local energy company that has been supplying the islands for over 30 years, achieved substantial completion of the beverage companies’ rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) system today.

The project reached the milestone seven months after the parties signed on Feb. 13 a 20-year solar power purchase agreement (PPA) for a 117kW DC / 96kW AC rooftop solar PV system, whereby Foremost and Coca-Cola will purchase renewable energy generated from the solar PV system designed, installed, owned, and maintained by IP&E.

Achieving substantial completion of the solar PV system marks the successful partnership between both companies to complete the principal installation works of the grid-tied solar PV system in just 47 calendar days with zero lost time incident.  During the construction phase, 216 solar modules, module mounting systems, four three-phase string inverters, and related components were installed at the Foremost corporate headquarters and warehouse facility on Guam. Through close collaboration and teamwork, the project team overcame several challenges to reach this milestone, including postponing the start of construction due to super typhoon Mawar in May, accessing and working safely on the 30-foot metal roof, and pulling nearly 5,000 feet of cables from the roof down to the electrical room.

The solar PV system will now enter the testing and commissioning phase, which entails securing government agency approvals and interconnection. Once commissioned, the grid-tied rooftop solar PV system is expected to generate approximately 191 megawatt-hours (MWh) of electricity annually, enabling Coca-Cola and Foremost to replace between 12% and 15% of the beverage companies’ monthly power consumption with renewable energy and reduce their carbon footprint by offsetting approximately 1,530 metric tons of carbon dioxide for the duration of the PPA.

Marcos W. Fong, CEO of Foremost and Coca-Cola, said, “We have studied the benefits of incorporating renewable solar energy into our critical infrastructure for years and are pleased to have found a partner in IP&E to help execute that plan. We will evaluate the impact of our shift to sustainable energy on our operations. The results will inform our future plans to expand sourcing additional capacity for clean energy in the communities where we do business.”

Brian Bamba, managing director of local energy company IP&E Holdings, said, “On behalf of everyone at IP&E and everyone involved in this project, we would like to thank Marcos Fong and his team at Foremost for their trust to deliver this commercial solar PV system.  IP&E is proud to partner with Foremost and Coca-Cola in this project, which manifests our mutual commitment to renewable energy solutions for our island and future. We would also like to recognize and thank our key stakeholders, the Department of Public Works and Guam Power Authority for their support and collaboration, especially in the aftermath of super typhoon Mawar.”

The leadership of Coca-Cola and Foremost, Citadel Pacific and IP&E holdings lead the switch-on ceremony to mark the substantial completion of the 117-kilowatt (kW) DC solar photovoltaic (PV) system at the Foremost corporate headquarters in Barrigada Heights on Sept. 19, 2023. Pictured at the Foremost electrical room are (from left) Marcos W. Fong, CEO, Coca-Cola and Foremost; Jim Beighley, CEO, Pacific Islands, Citadel Pacific and chairman, IP&E Holdings; and Ferdinand Tan, chief operating officer Citadel Pacific at the milestone event seven months after the parties signed a power purchase agreement in February.

Foremost Foods, Inc. (Foremost), Coca-Cola Beverage Co. (Guam), Inc. (Coca-Cola), the leading non-alcoholic beverage companies on Guam and in Micronesia, and IP&E Holdings, LLC., a local energy company that has been supplying the islands for over 30 years, marked the substantial completion of the beverage companies’ rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) system with a switch-on ceremony at the Foremost corporate headquarters in Barrigada Heights on Sept. 19, 2023. Marcos W. Fong (fifth from right), CEO of Coca-Cola and Foremost; Jim Beighley (sixth from right), CEO, Pacific Islands, Citadel Pacific and Chairman, IP&E Holdings; and Ferdinand Tan (seventh from right), COO, Citadel Pacific led the ceremony attended by stakeholders from the beverage and power companies (from left): Kaimana Indalecio, apprentice, IP&E Holdings; Christopher Heras de Leon, senior director, renewable assets, IP&E Holdings; Rogelio Olesco, electrical engineer, IP&E Holdings; Joel Ollet, owner, EICS; Matthew Paynter, commercial analyst, IP&E Holdings; Zyryll Fellores, electrical engineer, IP&E Holdings; Andrew Araw, director, renewable assets, IP&E Holdings; Hunter Brock, procurement & logistics analyst, IP&E Holdings; Camille Denight (not in photo), marketing business partner, IP&E Holdings; Janice Castro, distribution and facilities manager, Coca-Cola and Foremost; Jose Fernandez, sales manager, Coca-Cola and Foremost; Sharleen Marchesseault, director or marketing strategy, Glimpses of Guam; and Roland Villaverde, IT manager, Coca-Cola and Foremost.