Imagine being the C.E.O. and founder of an energy company at just twenty one years old. Well thats the life that Leandro Leviste is living. Solar Philippines is a solar technology and energy company founded by Leviste, who is a college undergraduate at Yale University. In the Philippines there were no major players in the solar energy field, so Leviste saw his opportunity and took it.
As more and more nations move to renewable energies like solar power, there is a massive growing market for this technology. “Last summer, I saw this opportunity. Companies in the US and Europe are doing the same thing, but no one was doing this in the Philippines where the electricity rates are so much higher. So I said, someone has to take this opportunity right now” said Leviste in a recent interview. Brining solar power to the Philippines was no easy task, however it seems that Leviste is doing a great job so far.
Solar Philipines recently made a deal with SM Supermalls to provide solar panels for one of their malls in the Philippines. Solar Philippines agreed to supply the SM North mall with 5,760 solar panels that can power the entire mall, including the 59 escalators and 20 elevators. Since the deal went through, it made SM North the largest solar powered mall in the entire world. Not to bad for someone still in college.
Since Solar Philippines has been successfully Leviste and the company look to bring solar panels and solar energy to a variety of other malls in not only the Philippines, but other parts of Asia as well. Leviste is studying political science at Yale, however he is currently on an academic leave to move forward with his company. While the details still have not been released it is expected that Solar Philippines will be providing solar energy to a variety of other malls within the next few years.
Photo from abs-cbnnews.com
