Kyocera Solar Inc. announced that its solar modules have been installed on a new photovoltaic (PV) carport at Toyota Motor Manufacturing of Baja California (TMMBC). The system was inaugurated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by Tijuana Mayor Carlos Bustamante; Federico Serrano Bañuelos, president of the Maquiladora Industry Association of Tijuana (AIM); Joe Da Rosa, president of TMMBC; and David Hester, president of Kyocera Mexicana, S.A. de C.V.
The new carport canopy, which covers a portion of the TMMBC facility’s parking area, will harness the sun’s energy to further enhance Toyota’s environmental friendliness and reduce carbon emissions by more than 28 tons each year. Designed and installed by Todo Solar MX, the system features 24 kilowatts (kW) of Kyocera solar modules and an SMA Sunny Boy power inverter to generate up to 121 kilowatt hours of renewable electricity each day – equivalent to the daily energy requirements of about 15 typical Tijuana-area homes.
TMMBC has been manufacturing Toyota trucks and cars in its Baja California facility since 2002, where it employs 985 people.
Kyocera and Toyota have a history of collaboration on projects to benefit the environment. In 2008, Toyota’s Tsutsumi Plant in Japan installed a Kyocera solar power generating system rated at 2,000kW, enough to power about 500 local households. Additionally, Kyocera’s solar cells are integrated into a unique Solar Powered Ventilation System available as an option on select Toyota Prius hybrid automobiles.
Both Toyota and Kyocera have environmental management systems in their Baja California manufacturing facilities to lower greenhouse gas emissions, conserve energy, reduce waste, promote recycling and enhance sustainability.