Friday, 08/11/2024 | 17:05 GMT+7
Just six months after the
installation of two power-producing wind turbines at Honda Transmission Mfg. of
America, Inc. the turbines are producing more electrical power than was anticipated
when the towers went into operation in January.
The wind turbines have exceeded
the projected power output figures by 6.3 percent, and have contributed toward
reducing the carbon dioxide emissions of power production, helping Honda reach
its voluntary goals to reduce the environmental impact of its products and
manufacturing operations by 2020. This includes a 30 percent reduction in CO2
emissions from Honda products, and significant CO2 reductions from the
company’s plants and other operations, compared with year 2000 levels.
The two turbines, standing 260
feet tall with 160-foot blades, were initially projected to produce upward of
10,000 megawatt hours (MWH) of electricity per year, accounting for
approximately 10 percent of the plant’s annual power needs. The turbines have
outperformed company projections in four of the six months since operation
began. At their highest output, the turbines provided 16.26 percent of the
plant’s power requirements for the month of April.
“We are extremely pleased with
the performance of the wind turbines’ production over their first six months,”
said Gary Hand, vice president of Honda Transmission Mfg. of America. “The
turbines’ operation has exceeded the projections established during the project
development.”
The installation of the turbines
makes the Russells Point plant the first major automotive facility in the
United States to receive a substantial amount of its power from on-site wind
turbines. The project was developed and installed by Juhl Energy from Pipestone,
Minnesota. The two turbines are owned by ConEdison Solutions.
To achieve their new
environmental targets, Honda is accelerating its efforts to advance the
environmental performance of its products, and its operations throughout North
America. The wind turbine project is among a number of other initiatives at
Honda plants to reduce energy use and waste from manufacturing operations.
Post-gazette