Following the Paris Agreement of 2016, governments and industries made commitments to reduce carbon emissions to zero (but without a specific timeframe) to prevent further global warming that is causing climate change.
Where the auto industry is concerned, all companies have formulated various initiatives to bring down carbon emissions, not only from their products but also manufacturing processes, facilities and in almost every aspect of their businesses. Many have set the end of this decade to achieve significant reductions, with the goal of complete carbon neutrality.
Honda Motor’s carbon neutrality strategy known as ‘Triple Action to ZERO’ targets net-zero carbon emissions across all operations and products, with 100% carbon-free energy use in production and facilities.
RM14 million project
Honda Malaysia doing its part to achieve these goals and its latest initiative is the installation of solar panels at its factory in Melaka to use sunshine to generate electricity. The company has spent approximately RM14 million on this project which has seen 8,960 solar panels placed on the rooftops of the factory buildings.
The total installed capacity is over 5.6 megawatts, with roughly 7,042 megawatt-hours of renewable electricity projected to be generated each year. This will cut the facility’s annual carbon dioxide emissions by 4,584 tonnes, which corresponds to nearly 10% of its total carbon output.
To manage energy generation efficiently, the setup incorporates a Battery Energy Storage System. The storage unit captures surplus solar energy during peak generation hours and redistributes it when needed, providing a stable energy supply for assembly operations and reducing dependence on the conventional TNB power grid.
The initiative was facilitated in part through the federal government’s Green Investment Tax Allowance. Following the deployment of these sustainable operational practices, Honda Malaysia achieved a 3.07 star rating under the Climate and Sustainability Industry Readiness Index framework.
Continuing the sustainability journey
“The completion of this solar power project marks an important milestone in Honda Malaysia’s sustainability journey. Beyond reducing our environmental footprint, it reflects our commitment to responsible manufacturing and our aspiration to contribute towards a carbon-neutral future,” said Narushi Yazaki, Honda Malaysia’s Managing Director and CEO.
“In addition, our sustainability journey extends beyond our own facilities, as our stakeholders, including Honda dealers, have also embraced environmentally responsible practices such as rainwater harvesting and proper battery disposal initiatives. These collective efforts further contribute to enhancing our overall environmental performance and support our shared vision of a more sustainable future,” he said.
He added that the solar power initiative will be expanded to the company’s Parts Supply Warehouse in Bukit Jelutong, Shah Alam, Selangor with completion during 2027.
