Japan - Large motor manufacturing company installs both solar and wind powered generating systems

Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. has installed both solar and wind powered generating systems at its Nakaze Plant as part of initiatives to employ alternative energy sources to replace petroleum fuels.

As part of the Yamaha Motor manufacturing system, the Nakaze Plant engages in the shaping and painting of external parts such as cowling for its motorcycles. The newly installed solar and wind power generating systems went into operation today at the factory.

This is the first case of simultaneous operation of solar and wind power generation at a Yamaha Motor group factory. The combined annual generating capacity of the two systems is approximately 26,000 kwh and they are expected to enable a reduction of CO2 emissions equivalent to approximately 18 tons.

According to Yamaha Motor, the electricity generated by these two systems will be used for the lighting and air-conditioning system for the offices of the factory's employee welfare building.

The solar power generation system has been installed as a joint research project with the independent public sector organization New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) and it is the seventh system to be installed by Yamaha Motor. Under the joint agreement, Yamaha Motor will supply data to NEDO on the system's operation for the first four years.

The system adopts a new format modular type design with a larger annual generating capacity than conventional systems of the same rated output and is also has a smaller environmental footprint in that it is manufactured by a process that results in lower CO2 emissions.

The vertical type wind power generation system is the first of its type to be adopted by Yamaha Motor. This type is quieter than a propeller-fitted windmill type, which makes it a more community-friendly system from the standpoint of neighboring residents in the factory area.

Yamaha Motor has pursued numerous means to reduce the environmental impact of its manufacturing operations, such as the installation of cogeneration systems and solar generation and changing from petroleum to natural gas as the fuel for its aluminum melting ovens.

Under the corporate environmental plan, Yamaha Motor has set a goal of reducing CO2 emissions in its manufacturing operations by 12.5% compered to the 1990 level of 99,853 tons by the year 2010. That goal has already been achieved in 2007, when the reduction versus the 1990 level reached 14.4%.

For more information, please contact Trevor.Sievert at ts@windfair.net