Toyota Motor Philippines Corporation (TMP) accelerates its ‘Plant Carbon Neutrality’ target by 15 years from originally planned 2050, aligning with the new target of Global Toyota to reduce the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions of all its manufacturing plants. The local manufacturer of Toyota Vios and Innova revealed this during the inauguration today of its expanded 1.46-megawatt (MW) solar facility that powers its manufacturing plant and head office.
As its major thrust towards carbon neutrality, TMP increased its solar power system’s capacity by 0.46 megawatt to further the Company’s minimum Renewable Energy (RE) ratio to 18%. With as much as 2 million kilowatt-hours of derivable clean energy per year, TMP’s onsite RE will contribute to 7-10% of the total energy requirement for manufacturing and non-manufacturing operations.
TMP invested over Php94 million for the 1.46-MW Solar Array project. As a result, the Company will reduce its emissions by as much as 1,400 tonne CO2 per year, equivalent to 2.9 million trees planted over 20 years.
In 2021, after Toyota Motor Corporation (in Japan) pulled forward its ‘Zero CO2 Emissions’ goal under the Toyota Environmental Challenge or TEC 2050, TMP drew-up a Plant Carbon Neutrality (PCN) roadmap to set clear targets under the two pillars of RE Utilization and Energy Efficiency. These pillars anchor how TMP will achieve its PCN target by using 100% RE from onsite and offsite power sources, applying smart technologies and operational efficiencies in manufacturing, as well as using modern machineries that lean on alternative fuel or 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% RE by also exploring offsite power sources,” TMP president Atsuhiro Okamoto said in the inauguration event.
The Company started its investment in RE in 2018 with the first-phase installation of 1-MW TMP Solar Array, a flagship initiative to achieve TMP’s commitments to TEC 2050, particularly ‘Challenge 3: Plant Zero CO2 Emissions.’ This first phase was a registered Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM) Model Project, which received subsidy from the Japanese Government. The JCM, a program that funds the diffusion of low carbon infrastructure in developing countries, provided the agreement to use the carbon credits in Japan’s emission reduction target.
The second phase is the addition of 0.46-MW capacity which started in March 2022. MSpectrum, Inc., an RE company and subsidiary of Manila Electric Company (Meralco), installed a total of 3,486 panels for the full rooftop solar power system on TMP’s main building in Santa Rosa City, Laguna.
Through TEC 2050, TMP also aims at reducing indirect emissions that occur in its value chain. TMP implements process improvement activities in logistics operations from the transportation of parts to the delivery of vehicles to the dealerships. To date, there are eight suppliers and 26 Toyota dealers that have also invested in RE facilities or entered into RE purchase agreements. Moreover, TMP has the widest line-up of Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) models which provides eco-friendly mobility options to customers.