Solar power aiding Bridgestone’s truck tyre production in Thailand
Bridgestone has installed 2,160 solar panels at the Chonburi site during the project’s first phase (Photo: Bridgestone)
Truck and bus tyre production at Bridgestone’s factory in Thailand will result in lower CO2 emissions in future thanks to the installation of a solar power generator at the site. Bridgestone Tire Manufacturing (Thailand) Co., Ltd. (BTMT) has brought the first phase of its solar power generation project into operation at the Chonburi facility, with 2,160 solar panels installed on roofing delivering a total capacity of 1 MWp.
By 2023, BTMT expects to reduce its CO2 emissions by 30,000 tonnes a year (compared with 2011 – a reduction of approximately 50 per cent) both through solar power generation and by utilising renewable energy from external sources, increasing the ratio of renewable electricity used to approximately 45 per cent. When it completes the second phase of the project in 2024, the installation of an additional 4 MWp capacity will enable BTMT to meet 40 per cent of its renewable energy requirements with on-site solar panels.
“Bridgestone not only seek solutions to improve its energy efficiency, but also endeavour to contribute to a more sustainable and equitable society for all. This solar panel initiative is another positive step in achieving Bridgestone’s long-term (2050 and beyond) environmental vision towards carbon neutral,” says Shousuke Namiyama, managing director of BTMT.
Going solar at other sites
Additional projects in Thailand will see Bridgestone install solar power generators
at Thai Bridgestone Co, Ltd. (TBSC) and another two facilities in Thailand, Bridgestone Specialty Tire Manufacturing (Thailand) Co., Ltd. and Bridgestone Metalpha (Thailand) Co., Ltd. It intends to install this equipment by 2023.
TBSC recently signed a contract with its partner, Impact Solar Group (Thailand) Co., Ltd., to install a large-scale 9.9 MWp capacity solar power generator at its Nongkhae car and light truck tyre plant. Upon completion, it will become the largest solar power generator in terms of capacity within the global Bridgestone Group.
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