SM Prime Holdings, Inc., said it had set up a 1.1 Megawatt rooftop solar-powered generator in its Xiamen mall, the first of its kind, in Fujian Province, China. 

The project costing $2 million will use 3,740 solar panels on the roof of SM City Xiamen Phase 1 and Phase 2 (SM Lifestyle Center), the company said. 

The solar power generator has a capacity of 1,100 kilowatt peak (KWp).

The average generated electricity of the project is estimated at 1.1 million kilowatt hour (KWh) per year. The total generated electricity of the 25-year life cycle will be approximately 27.5 million KWh.

“SM Prime is constantly in pursuit of the highest level of operational efficiency. We want to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and operating costs by minimizing electricity consumption. In line with this, we place strong emphasis in investing in the latest innovations in sustainable and energy efficient technology,” said Hans Sy, SM Prime president.

Aside from SM City Xiamen, SM Prime has introduced a thermal energy storage plant in SM City Jinjiang. This ice-based cooling system fosters a large reduction in the mall’s utility and energy bills and greatly optimizes energy efficiency.

SM Prime operates 47 malls all over the country with a combined gross floor area of 5.9 million square meters. For the rest of 2013, SM Prime is scheduled to launch SM City BF Paranaque. SM Megamall will be expanded with the opening of Building D. By year-end, SM Prime will have 48 malls in the Philippines and five in China with an estimated combined gross floor area of 6.9 million square meters.