Yokohama Rubber Co. has installed a photovoltaic power generation system at the Research and Development Integrated Center in Hiratsuka, Japan.
The solar power system installed consists of 127 panels that cover 90 square meters of space, which will supply about 8,000 kWh of electricity annually. Yokohama said this will reduce CO2 emissions by about three tons per year.
The new system is to be operational as of Dec. 23. The Yokohama plant in Hiratsuka has been using some solar power and wind turbine-generated power. In addition, photovoltaic power generation systems have been introduced at the Mishima Plant and the Shinshiro-Minami Plant (which also uses wind power), and at the Hangzhou Yokohama Tire Co. plant in China, which begins operations in February 2011.
