Bridgestone adds solar power to tire plant in Thailand

Chonburi, Thailand – Bridgestone Tire Manufacturing (Thailand) Co. has started the to use solar energy to power its truck and bus tire manufacturing operations in Chonburi.

In the first phase, the solar power generator comprises of 2,160 individual solar panels installed on the facility’s roofs with a total capacity of 1 MWp. 

The second phase, scheduled to be completed in 2024, will include the installation of an additional 4MWp solar power generator and switching 40% of the energy outsourced from external provider to renewable energy. 

By 2023, the company expects to cut CO2 emissions by 30,000 tonnes, about 50% less than the 2011 levels.

The move will increase the ratio of renewable electricity usage to approximately 45%.
 
The switch is part of the group's carbon neutrality target and its goal to become sustainable solutions company by 2050. 

The group’s “milestone 2030” medium-term strategy eyes a 50% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2030 compared to 2011.

In July, the group switched 100% of electricity sources from outside providers to renewable energy across four local plants in Japan. 

In March Bridgestone Europe announced that it has completed the switch to renewable energy as the source of power for all of its business sites in Europe.

In addition, the group is currently installing solar power generation facilities at its plants in Thailand, as well as manufacturing facilities Aiken, South Carolina and Wuxi in China.