Honda Begins Installation of Solar Power Generation Systems at Automobile Dealership Locations in Japan

TOKYO, Japan -- Honda Motor Co., Ltd. announced the installation of a 9 kilowatt-capacity solar power generation system at the Adachi Odai location of the Honda Cars Tokyo Chuo dealer network. The installation kicks off a project to install Honda Soltec^*1 solar power generation systems with a total capacity of 1 megawatt at Honda automobile dealership locations in Japan by March 31, 2014.

Honda Soltec solar panel installed at Adachi Odai location of the Honda Cars Tokyo Chuo dealer network

Striving to realize a low carbon society, Honda has been installing solar power generation systems at Honda operations in Japan. The combined capacity of solar power generation systems installed to date has reached 3.3 megawatts, the largest in Japan among all automakers operating. Honda has been already installing solar power generation systems at some Honda automobile dealership locations; however, in order to further extend the effort to reduce CO₂ emissions in the area of sales, Honda made a decision to pursue this large-scale installation of solar power generation systems that includes the installation of a display monitor which shows current power generating situation of solar panels to customers who visit the dealership location. Furthermore, Honda is planning to install a 2.6-megawatt Honda Soltec solar power generation system to the new Yorii Plant, which is scheduled to become operational in 2013. This will be the largest solar power generation system installed at an automobile production plant in Japan.

Honda Soltec's CIGS thin-film solar cells^*2 require significantly less energy during the manufacturing process and generate more electricity even during cloudy weather or morning and evening hours compared to crystalline silicon solar cells. The CO₂ reduction effect of the planned installation of 1 megawatt of solar power generation system to dealership locations is estimated to be approximately 310 tons^*3.

In addition to reducing CO₂ emissions during production and the use of its motorcycles, automobiles and power products, Honda is focused on the evolution of household energy creation products including its household gas-engine cogeneration units and thin-film solar cells with a vision to realize "the Joy and Freedom of Mobility" and "a Sustainable Society where People Can Enjoy Life." Under the "triple zero" concept - "zero" CO₂ emissions; "zero" energy risk through energy management technologies; and "zero" waste through the reduce, reuse and recycle approach - Honda will address climate change and energy/resource issues through its own technologies and business activities, striving to realize a society with a zero environmental footprint which is our ultimate goal.

*1

Honda Soltec (headquarter: Kikuchi-gun, Kumamoto, President: Akio Kazusa) is Honda's solar cell production and sales subsidiary.

*2

Solar cells with thin film composed of a compound of copper, indium, gallium and selenium (CIGS)

*3

Calculated based on Japan Photovoltaic Energy Association's factor for CO₂ reduction.

[Source:  http://world.honda.com/news/2012/c120204Solar-Power-Generation-Systems/index.html]