HIRATSUKA, Japan (Dec. 23, 2010)—Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd. has installed a solar photovoltaic power generation system at the research and development center at its Hiratsuka factory that will generate 8,000 kWh of electricity annually.
Yokohama said installing the system—127 panels generating 87 watts apiece, covering 90 square meters—is part of its corporatewide effort to combat global warming. The installation is expected to reduce CO2 emissions by about 3 metric tons annually, Yokohama said.
This is the fourth alternative energy system Yokohama has installed at its facilities. The others are photovoltaic power generation systems the Mishima and Shinshiro-Mishima, Japan, and Hangzhou, China, plants. The firm also has installed wind power systems at the Hiratsuka and Shinshiro-Minami plants.
Yokohama has set a target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent by 2020.