Village Connect
As Philippine manufacturers face rising electricity costs and increasing pressure to adopt environmentally responsible operations, Datian Subic Shoes Inc. is taking a major step toward sustainable production with the installation of a 3.06-megawatt-peak (MWp) rooftop solar power system across its two factories in the Subic Bay Freeport.
The initiative, developed and operated by Berde Renewables, is expected to reduce Datian’s dependence on grid electricity by more than 40 percent while strengthening its competitiveness in the international footwear manufacturing industry.
A Philippine manufacturing subsidiary of Taiwan-based Datian Shoes, the company employs more than 5,000 workers locally and supplies footwear to global markets.
Turning Factory Rooftops Into Clean Energy Sources
The solar installation covers two manufacturing facilities, with Factory 1 equipped with a 2.063 MWp system and Factory 2 featuring a 1.0 MWp system.
Together, the facilities utilize 4,834 bifacial solar panels and 17 inverters, making the project one of the largest manufacturer-operated rooftop solar installations in the Subic Bay Freeport.
The systems are projected to generate approximately four gigawatt-hours (GWh) of electricity during their first year and more than 80 GWh throughout the 20-year agreement.
Beyond electricity savings, the project is expected to prevent approximately 3,232 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually, equivalent to planting around 122,000 trees each year.
Strengthening Competitiveness Through Renewable Energy
For Datian, adopting solar power goes beyond reducing monthly electricity expenses.
International footwear brands are increasingly requiring manufacturing partners to demonstrate measurable progress in reducing carbon emissions throughout their supply chains.
By producing renewable electricity directly at its factories, Datian can provide verifiable energy information to support its customers’ sustainability reporting requirements.
The installation also helps reduce exposure to grid fluctuations during production hours, addressing electricity-related disruptions that have previously damaged factory equipment.
“Our customers expect us to be a reliable long-term partner, and that now includes powering our factories with clean energy,” said Datian Subic Shoes Inc. President Vincent Chen.
“This investment strengthens our position as a global supplier and reinforces our commitment to the local economy. Through our partnership with Berde, we did it without diverting capital from production,” he added.
Solar Investment Without Upfront Capital
One of the project’s major advantages is its financing arrangement.
Under a 20-year Build-Own-Operate-Transfer (BOOT) power purchase agreement, Berde Renewables financed, designed, and constructed the solar facilities.
Berde will also handle operations and maintenance throughout the contract period, allowing Datian to benefit from renewable energy without making an upfront capital investment or taking on the maintenance burden.
The agreement provides Datian with a fixed electricity tariff, offering greater cost predictability amid fluctuations in global energy markets.
Despite challenging weather conditions during the July-to-September 2026 monsoon season, the project was completed with 35,550 safe man-hours and zero lost-time injuries.
Berde Renewables CEO Patrick Zhu emphasized that renewable energy is becoming an essential business strategy for export-oriented manufacturers.
“Datian treated energy as a strategic input, not a utility bill,” Zhu said.
“Manufacturers in the Subic Freeport compete on cost, delivery and, increasingly, on the emissions profile of what they ship. Datian is ahead on all three.”
A Model for Greener Philippine Manufacturing
Datian’s solar transition demonstrates how industrial companies can embrace renewable energy while protecting capital for business expansion and production requirements.
With lower dependence on conventional electricity, predictable energy costs, and measurable environmental benefits, the partnership highlights the growing role of rooftop solar technology in strengthening Philippine manufacturing.
As sustainability becomes an increasingly important factor in global trade, Datian Subic Shoes Inc. and Berde Renewables are showing how clean energy investments can support both environmental responsibility and long-term industrial competitiveness.
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