Toyota Motor Philippines Corp. Sets Eyes on Carbon-Neutral Santa Rosa Plant by 2035

Toyota Motor Philippines Corp. (TMP) has recently expanded its solar facility in Santa Rosa, Laguna. The move forms part of the automotive manufacturer’s efforts to become carbon-neutral by 2035. As part of the expansion, Toyota increased the solar facility’s capacity to 1.46 megawatts (MW) after a 0.46 MW addition.

Per year, TMP boasts 2 million kilowatt-hours of derivable clean energy. It also affirmed that its onsite renewable energy (RE) contributes 7 to 10% of the total energy requirement for manufacturing and non-manufacturing operations in its Santa Rosa head office. The expansion amounted to ₱94 million. Meanwhile, the added solar array is projected to cut as much as 1,400 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) per year.

Earlier in 2021, Toyota Motor Corp. unveiled its “Zero CO2 Emissions” initiative under the Toyota Environmental Challenge or TEC 2050. In response, TMP presented a Plant Carbon Neutrality (PCN) roadmap with specific targets. Initially, it aimed to turn its Santa Rosa plant carbon-neutral by 2050. The recent expansion project has since moved this up 15 years earlier in 2035.

Furthermore, TMP expects to utilize 100% RE from onsite and offsite power sources to achieve its PCN. It plans to apply smart technologies and operational efficiencies in manufacturing, as well as modern pieces of machinery that function on alternative energy sources. “For TMP, I am confident to say that plant carbon neutrality by 2035 is possible. We have 13 years left before our deadline, and we are working continuously to achieve 100 percent RE by also exploring offsite power sources,” explained TMP President Atsuhiro Okamoto.

TMP’s first-phase installation of a 1-MW solar array in 2018 marked the beginning of its RE investments. In March 2022, it moved to the second phase by adding 0.46 MW of capacity. RE firm MSpectrum Inc. aided in the company’s recent expansion. The Meralco subsidiary installed 3,486 solar panels on the rooftop of TMP’s Santa Rosa building.

Source: Manila Times