CLARK FREEPORT -- The Yokohama Tire Philippines, Incorporated (YTPI) has installed a solar power plant which generates four megawatt of electricity.

Wenri Elic De Guzman, public relations officer of YTPI, said this is part of the tire manufacturing company’s environment programs.

“YTPI takes its development towards environmental protection and energy conservation to a higher notch as the country’s sole tire manufacturing plant is now being powered by a 4-Megawatt (4MW) Rooftop Solar Plant, the biggest in Central Luzon and second in the country in terms of generating capacity,” De Guzman stated.

The power generators cover 24,000 square meters of the company’s west plant’s roofing with approximate 15,000 units of solar panels.

The 4MW power plant will offset YTPI’s annual demand from the grid by seven percent or 5.2 million kWh.

The power plant will also reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emission annually by 2,800,000 kilograms, according to De Guzman.

The solar panels will also provide a cooling effect inside the factory, which will reduce energy consumption on air conditioning, especially during the summer season, he added.

The project was completed and started its operation in June this year.

Sharp Solar Solutions Asia Co. Ltd. supplied the solar panels while Myegie Construction and Micromatic Industries did the civil and electrical works.

This project is seen as one of the breakthrough projects of YTPI.

YTPI aims to have a sustainable, self-reliant, and renewable alternative power source that will have a strong impact on CO2 emission and cost reduction, De Guzman said.

The tire company is one of the pioneer locators in Clark that uses solar power that provides lighting in their canteen building facility during the daytime.

Yokohama Tire Philippines, Inc. is one of the biggest subsidiaries of The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. outside Japan.