A Panasonic factory in Penang has achieved net-zero CO2 emissions and is the first in the Malaysian state to have declared this status.
Panasonic Automotive Systems Malaysia Sdn Bhd (Panasonic Automotive), a manufacturer of high-quality audio and navigation systems for vehicles, attained the net-zero CO2 standing earlier this year.
Its managing director Takahiro Suzuki said that the plant realizing net-zero CO2 emissions is in line with the country’s commitment in achieving its carbon neutrality target by 2050.
“The company has been in constant talks with the Penang State Department of Environment to stay aligned in working towards this common goal,” he said in a statement today.
In October 2018, the company invested in renewable energy via the installation of a small photovoltaic system that generates 0.8% of the total factory’s electricity consumption.
Suzuki also highlighted that continuing to maintain the zero-CO2 factory status requires commitment from both management and staff.
“We have promoted energy saving and adopted sustainable practices, such as installing high-volume, low-speed fans in place of air-conditioning and switching off lights during break times to cut wastefulness.
“We are truly appreciative of the support and participation of our employees. Achieving the ‘zero-CO2 factory status’ is not an endpoint, albeit a major milestone in our ongoing journey to full environmental sustainability,” added Suzuki.
The ISO 14001-certified plant, with a land area of 100,700 square meters and a build-up area of 28,430 square meters, has been working to reduce CO2 emissions from various aspects of its operations.
Key initiatives include replacing water pumps, lighting, air-conditioning and cooling systems’ equipment with energy-efficient ones, installing motion sensors, and conducting air leak surveys and implementing countermeasures.
Penang State Department of Environment director Norazizi Adinan added: “The net-zero CO2 status achieved by Panasonic Automotive is an important accomplishment for the state and country’s broader carbon neutrality aspirations.”
Panasonic Automotive aims to systematically reduce its energy consumption by 3% annually. It hopes to partially achieve this through a bigger photovoltaic system, comprising 3,284 solar panels to be installed on its rooftops by March 2024, that will supply the plant with 20% of its electricity usage.
