Climate Change
Sharp’s Stance on Climate Change
Climate Change Initiatives Based on the Medium-Term Management Direction
In May 2024, Sharp announced its medium-term management direction aimed at accelerating its future growth. For its existing brand business, Sharp will pursue business transformation, including utilizing new technologies and launching new businesses in growth areas. Additionally, in pursuit of the next innovation, Sharp aims to capture new business opportunities by improving added value through stronger technological capabilities and expanded business domains.
In response to climate change, Sharp will work to transform its existing brand business through the creation of new customer experiences that are driven by the combination of home appliances with AI, and through the development of new products that capture the growing demand for carbon neutrality. Meanwhile, in pursuit of the next innovation, Sharp will, in addition to the traditional home and workplace, treat “mobility” as a living space, which it will work to create new value for, such as by building an EV ecosystem.
Sharp will further strengthen ties with its business partners and accelerate each of its initiatives to achieve dramatic growth while simultaneously addressing climate change.
Participation in Climate Crisis Initiatives and Other Efforts
Sharp participates in the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi)*1, which is focused on pursuing action that will achieve real and reliable results in the fight against climate change. Sharp had previously received SBT WB2°C*2 (well-below 2°C) certification and, in March 2024, obtained SBT 1.5°C *3 certification. Moving forward, Sharp will further accelerate its carbon neutrality efforts and pursue collaboration with suppliers to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across the entire supply chain, aiming to obtain SBT Net Zero*4 certification. Sharp also aims to use 100% renewable energy in business activities, with the aim of taking part in the RE100*5 global initiative.
In Japan, Sharp will continue to participate in the Liaison Group of Japanese Electrical and Electronics Industries for Global Warming Prevention*6 and the GX League*7 to promote initiatives by the electrical and electronics industry, along with collaborative efforts across industry, government, and academia and contribute to efforts aimed at achieving carbon neutrality for society as a whole.
- This climate change-related initiative is a collaborative effort of the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), the CDP, World Resources Institute (WRI), and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). The SBTi promotes the establishment of science-based GHG emissions reduction targets in conformance with the Paris Agreement.
- A target of keeping the increase in global average temperatures to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels.
- A target of limiting the increase in global average temperatures to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
- Calls for setting reduction targets at the 1.5°C level and balancing remaining emissions with carbon removal.
- A global initiative that aims for companies to cover 100% of the electricity used in their operations with renewable energy.
- This group comprises companies from electrical and electronics industry associations in Japan, such as the Japan Electrical Manufacturers’ Association (JEMA) and the Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association (JEITA). The Liaison Group undertakes industry-wide efforts aimed at preventing global warming—for example, proposing action plans to achieve carbon neutrality.
- GX stands for ‘green transformation’—an initiative to transform society into being carbon neutral by 2050. The GX League is a forum where companies pursuing sustainable growth collaborate with other companies, government, and academic organizations that share the same GX goals.
Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions across the Value Chain
For greenhouse gas emissions across the entire Sharp value chain, emissions from its own activities (Scopes 1 and 2) account for 5%, and indirect emissions outside the scope of its activities, such as emissions associated with material procurement, transportation, and the use of sold products (Scope 3), account for 95%. Because of this, Sharp recognizes the importance of reducing greenhouse gas emissions across its entire value chain, not only through its own efforts to reduce the environmental impact of its activities, like product manufacturing, but, also, through efforts to reduce the environmental impact of material procurement and product use by customers (improving product energy efficiency).
As part of its efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from its own activities, Sharp is conserving energy at its production sites (such as by switching to LED lighting in offices and improving the efficiency of outdoor air-processing units and air-conditioning systems). Sharp is also systematically installing solar power systems at its business locations, and, with the full-scale operation of the solar power systems installed at its factories in Thailand and China in fiscal 2023, solar power systems will be in operation at 17 locations in Japan and overseas. Furthermore, Sharp is also working to transition its company cars to electric EVs. For example, production and sales bases in Europe, including the UK and Sweden, are replacing existing cars with EVs and installing charging points.
In materials procurement, Sharp will further strengthen cooperation with its business partners to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In the field of transportation, Sharp continues to pursue a modal shift (a switch from truck-based transportation to environmentally friendly methods like ships and railroads) while also working to optimize landing points and review its parts procurement sources.
Sharp is actively working to create environmentally friendly products and devices whose use will result in reduced greenhouse gas emissions, as these emissions account for the largest portion across the company’s entire value chain. Sharp designates its environmentally friendly products and devices as “Green Products” and “Green Devices.” It has formulated and implemented guidelines that summarize the development and design rules of these products and devices in order to ensure it is continually working to improve their environmental friendliness.
Breakdown for Sharp Greenhouse Gas Emissions (Fiscal 2023)
Contributing to Society through the Widespread Adoption of Renewable Energy
“As a manufacturer of products that consume electricity, we have a responsibility to become a manufacturer of electricity itself.” This has been the motivating resolve behind Sharp’s work on solar power generation begun in 1959. Sharp’s efforts over the last half century have expanded into a wide range of fields, from residential use to power generation under harsh conditions in lighthouses and satellites, to mega solar power plants around the world. In January 2024, SLIM, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)’s spacecraft equipped with Sharp’s thin-film compound solar cells, successfully made a pinpoint landing on the surface of the moon. It was confirmed that the solar cells operated normally after landing.
Sharp will continue to work to further promote the use of renewable energy in all sectors of society and to contribute to the realization of a decarbonized society.
TCFD-Based Information Disclosure
Action on the TCFD Recommendations
The Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) was established by the Financial Stability Board (FSB), an organization promoting international financial stability. In 2017 the TCFD released recommendations for companies to disclose information on the risks and opportunities of climate change. Sharp has declared support for the TCFD recommendations and is expanding disclosure of climate-related information in accordance with the framework set by the TCFD.
1. Governance
Climate-related issues are monitored and countermeasures supervised by the President & CEO, who chairs the Sustainability Committee. The committee includes senior executives and members from head office departments, business units, and subsidiaries. The committee works to thoroughly implement policies and visions related to aspects of ESG such as climate change; it deliberates on and promotes active measures; and it shares the latest trends on societal issues.
Through monitoring and review by management at committee meetings, Sharp continuously strengthens climate change action to play a part in making society sustainable.
2. Strategy
Sharp sees climate change as both a risk and an opportunity in the medium to long term. We are studying strategies and learning about organizational resilience in the context of climate change-related risks and opportunities. To understand long-term impacts up to 2050, we analyzed climate change scenarios outlined by the International Energy Agency (IEA) and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) (1.5°C scenario*1 and 4°C scenario*2). The following page provides detailed information about those risks and opportunities, along with a summary of associated measures.
3. Risk Management
Sharp identifies and assesses climate-related risks in accordance with the Rules of Business Risk Management, in which the basic approach to risk management has been established. Specifically, Sharp identifies climate-related risks that are highly likely to occur based on its analysis of climate scenarios forecast for the future. Sharp reports its findings as necessary to senior executives and the Internal Control Planning Division, which serves as the risk management secretariat. It also facilitates necessary improvement measures in partnership with involved departments.
4. Metrics and Targets
In 2019 Sharp formulated SHARP Eco Vision 2050, a long-term environmental vision based on its basic environmental policy of “Creating an environmentally conscious company with sincerity and creativity,” which was established in 1992. Sharp is working toward realizing a sustainable global environment by pursuing long-term goals set in three fields of action with 2050 as the target year: climate change, resource recycling, and safety and security. With regard to the pressing global issue of climate change, Sharp is accelerating its efforts aimed at achieving net zero CO2 emissions from the company’s activities by 2030.
Progress towards Reducing GHG Emissions (Fiscal 2023 Results)
| Base Year (fiscal 2021 results) |
Fiscal 2023 Results | Base Year Comparison |
|---|---|---|
| 1,365 thousand tons CO2 | 1,175 thousand tons CO2 | 13.9% reduction |
- EA Net Zero Emissions by 2050 Scenario; SSP1-1.9 scenario from the IPCC 6th Assessment Report (AR6).
- RCP 8.5 scenario from the IPCC 5th Assessment Report (AR5).
Business Risks and Opportunities; Sharp’s Response
| Scenario | Factors | Changes | Impacts on Sharp | Risk or Opportunity | Degree of Impact | Time Until Impact Becomes Apparent* | Sharp’s Response |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5℃ | Introduction of carbon pricing | Increased raw material procurement costs | Costs passed on to purchase prices due to carbon tax levied on Sharp-purchased products | Risk | Large | Short term |
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| Increased direct operational costs | Increased payment costs due to carbon tax levied in line with Sharp’s Scope 1 and 2 emissions | Risk | Large | Short term |
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| Pressure to decarbonize and pursue environmental friendliness in the supply chain | Decline in competitiveness due to failure to meet user needs for environmental friendliness | Decrease in sales due to failure to meet user expectations for environmental friendliness | Risk | Medium | Short term |
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| Increased costs associated with switching to environmentally friendly materials | Increased costs associated with switching to electric furnace materials, recycled plastic, and bio-plastic, which emit less CO2 | Risk | Medium | Medium term |
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| Increased energy procurement costs due to switching to renewable energy | Increased costs associated with in-house power generation, power purchase agreements (PPA), switching to renewable energy, and purchase of environmental value certificates | Risk | Small | Medium term |
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| Expansion of the renewable energy market | Increased demand for solar power-related products and systems from producers and users of renewable energy | Increased possibility for revenue growth by expanding product and system offerings | Opportunity | Medium | Short term |
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| Increased demand for zero energy houses (ZEH) | Increased possibility for revenue growth by strengthening offerings of flat-rate solar power services for homes and home energy management systems (HEMS) | Opportunity | Medium | Short term |
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| Expansion of environmental protection businesses | Expansion of circular economy business models | Increased support from customers by establishing a waste-free circular economy business model, amid growing efforts for decarbonization in society | Opportunity | Small | Medium term |
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| 4℃ | Intensifying weather-driven disasters | Disruptions in the supply chain | Intensifying weather-driven disasters affect Sharp suppliers and bases and the supply chain, leading to a loss in sales opportunities for Sharp | Risk | Medium | Long term |
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- Short term: three years or less; medium term: by around 2030; long term: by around 2050.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions Based on the GHG Protocol Initiative
Sharp calculates greenhouse gas emissions based on the GHG Protocol*1 and then works to limit those emissions across the entire supply chain.
- The GHG Protocol is an international standard for calculating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. It was jointly established by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), a coalition of the world’s leading companies, and the World Resources Institute (WRI), a United States-based think tank
Greenhouse Gas Emissions by Scope 1/2/3 Categories Based on the GHG Protocol Initiative (Fiscal 2023)
| Category | Emissions Thousand Tons CO2) |
Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scope 1 (direct GHG emissions from business activities) | 290 | Emissions from combustion of fuel, etc. | |
| Scope 2 (indirect GHG emissions from energy usage in business activities) | 885 | Emissions from the use of electricity. Location-based emissions (calculated using the average emission intensity of each region) were 1,005 thousand tons CO2. | |
| Total of Scope 1 and Scope 2 | 1,175 | ||
| Scope 3 (indirect GHG emissions from outside the scope of business activities) |
1. Purchased goods and services | 2,480 | Emissions from the manufacture of materials procured for the main products*2 sold in the reporting year |
| 2. Capital goods | 130 | Emissions from the construction, manufacture, and transportation of capital goods (such as equipment, machinery, buildings, facilities, and vehicles) | |
| 3. Fuel- and energy-related activities (not included in Scope 1 or 2) |
219 | Emissions from the procurement of fuels (natural resource extraction, manufacture, and transportation) consumed in the generation of electricity and heat procured from other companies | |
| 4. Upstream transportation and distribution | 164 | Emissions from the transportation of parts and materials and products manufactured | |
| 5. Waste generated in operations | 2 | Emissions from waste disposal and treatment | |
| 6. Business travel | 19 | Emissions from business travel by all employees | |
| 7. Employee commuting | 17 | Emissions from commuting by all employees | |
| 8. Upstream leased assets | － | Included in Scope 1 and 2 emissions | |
| 9. Downstream transportation and distribution | 63 | Emissions from the transportation (from retailers to end consumers) of the main products*2 sold in the reporting year | |
| 10. Processing of sold products | 201 | Emissions from processing at destination of products | |
| 11. Use of sold products | 19,110 | Emissions*3 from the use of the main products*2 sold in the reporting year | |
| 12. End-of-life treatment of sold products | 763 | Emissions from recycling 4 types of appliances*4, copiers/MFPs, and PCs, and emissions of refrigerants when disposing of air conditioners | |
| 13. Downstream leased assets | － | Not applicable | |
| 14. Franchises | － | Not applicable | |
| 15. Investments | － | Not applicable | |
| Scope 3 total | 23,168 | ||
| Scope 1 + 2 +3 total | 24,343 | ||
- Flat-panel TVs, air conditioners, refrigerators/freezers, washing machines/dryers, air purifiers, Plasmacluster Ion generators, microwave ovens, copiers/MFPs, solar cells.
- Annual power consumption of each product × number of units sold × product life × CO2 emission coefficient. The calculation method was revised for fiscal 2023.
- TVs (CRT TVs, flat-panel TVs), air conditioners, refrigerators/freezers, washing machines/dryers.
Reducing Business Activity-Linked Greenhouse Gas Emissions
| Fiscal 2023 Objectives | Fiscal 2023 Achievements | Self-Evaluation | Priority Objectives for Fiscal 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
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★★ |
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- Self-evaluation: ★★★ Achieved more than targeted / ★★ Achieved as targeted / ★ Achieved to some extent
To address the global problem of climate change, Sharp is working to reduce GHG emissions from its business activities. We aim to achieve net zero CO2 emissions from business activities by 2030. The Sharp Group’s GHG emissions from business activities in fiscal 2023 was down 13.9% to 1,175,000 tons CO2 compared to the previous fiscal year.
Each Sharp production base is strengthening efforts involving all equipment and systems—ranging from production lines to utility systems for supplying electricity, gas, and water—to boost energy efficiency and reduce GHG emissions. In particular, the LCD and electronic component plants consume large amounts of energy. The plants’ production, engineering, and environmental departments work together to reduce consumption of base-load energy. Efforts include installing inverters*1 and optimizing the air conditioning in clean rooms*2
To achieve its environmental goals, Sharp will continue to install solar power systems in its plants and other sites, introduce factory energy management systems, streamline production lines, and install energy-saving equipment in utility systems.
Sharp Group’s GHG Emissions from Business Activities
GHG Emissions by Region (Fiscal 2023)
- A device to control the number of motor rotations.
- A room where the temperature, humidity, and cleanliness are kept at controlled levels.
- HFCs, PFCs, sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), nitrogen trifluoride (NF3).
Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions at Production Sites
WSEC, Sharp’s production base in China, has upgraded the electronic control system for the factory’s air conditioning equipment and implemented total optimization control, as well as replaced all fluorescent lights with LED lamps. In addition, for the air compressors, thermal energy recovery is being used to help save energy while some of the equipment has been updated to more efficient models. Furthermore, a solar power system with an output of 2 MW-dc and annual power generation of 2,363 MWh was installed on the factory roof. As a result of these efforts, greenhouse gas emissions were reduced by approximately 4,000 t-CO2 in fiscal 2023
Sharp is actively pursuing energy-saving initiatives and the introduction of solar power systems at its domestic and overseas bases as it works to reduce greenhouse gas emissions globally.
Product Life Cycle Assessment
Identifying and Reducing Environmental Impacts throughout the Life of Products
Sharp performs a life cycle*1 assessment (LCA) on its products to identify their impact on the environment throughout their service life and uses the results in product planning and development.
Consumer electronics generally have a large impact on the environment during use. Thus, by focusing on improving their energy savings, overall environmental impact can be effectively reduced. A decrease in the environmental impact of 4K*2 LCD TVs was achieved by improving energy efficiency and reducing the products’ weight.
LCA Data for 4K LCD TVs
- The life of a product from materials and parts procurement to manufacture, distribution, use, disposal, and recycling.
- Ultra-high-definition video standard with a resolution of 3,840 × 2,160 pixels (8.29 million pixels). This is four times the resolution of current 2K full high-definition broadcasts (1,920 × 1,080 pixels; 2.07 million pixels).
- CO2 emissions during use are calculated using a CO2 emission coefficient (adjusted) announced by Japan’s Electric Power Council for a Low Carbon Society (ELCS).
Utilizing Renewable Energy
Sharp has introduced the use of PV systems, green power, and other power sources to its domestic and overseas production bases and is advancing the use of renewables to do its part to create a decarbonized society. In fiscal 2023, the amount of green electricity purchased increased significantly to 14.58 million kWh, as a result of the full-scale implementation of PPAs (power purchase agreements)*4 at Sharp factories in Thailand and China. In-house solar power generation was 4.49 million kWh. Also, in fiscal 2023, Sharp began purchasing non-fossil fuel certificates for its Kameyama Plant and factory in Vietnam. As a result, the proportion of renewable energy in electricity consumption has increased to 6%.
- An agreement whereby a company or other entity purchases electricity, derived from natural energy sources, from a power producer or supplier on a long-term basis
Solar Power Systems at Sharp Bases Worldwide
“Eee Connect” System Connects Solar Power Systems, Storage Battery Systems, Home Appliances, and EVs
Sharp released the JH-WE2301 EV converter, which can charge and discharge EVs, and has built a V2H (vehicle-to-home) system that connects EVs to homes. In order to make effective use of electricity generated from sunlight, in addition to enabling connection to storage batteries and, from November 2023, connection to home appliances, in March 2024 Sharp began offering the Eee Connect system to enable connection to EVs as well.
This system coordinates the three elements of solar power generation, storage batteries, and EVs to allow for centralized control of EV charging and discharging in addition to conventional solar power generation and storage battery use. Clean electricity generated from sunlight is used to charge the EV as direct current (DC), thus enabling the generated electricity to be consumed efficiently within the home as well as making maximum use of solar power for driving the EV.
This EV converter is the smallest and lightest in the industry*1 and can be installed on the wall of a home, making it possible to install it even in parking lots, where space is limited.
COCORO Energy, Sharp’s cloud-based HEMS*2 service, which smartly and automatically controls energy equipment, will also feature a new EV connection function. When a weather warning is issued due to a typhoon or other weather event, the system will respond to the warning to allow users to prepare for power outages by charging not only the storage battery but also the EV.
In addition to an equipment warranty, the EV converter comes with a range of paid services, including 24/7 call center support and compensation for natural disasters and for damages due to accidents*3. Users can contact Sharp in the unlikely event that a problem occurs at night. The product is covered for damage caused by natural disasters, such as lightning strikes or typhoons, and for damage caused by accidents, like the charging/discharging connector*4 falling. This means users can use the EV converter with peace of mind after purchase.
Sharp will continue to contribute to the widespread adoption of renewable energy by offering total solutions, including the Eee Connect system, which connects a solar power system, a storage battery system, home appliances, and EVs, as well as offering after-sales services.
- For a V2H system that can connect a solar power system, a storage battery system, and DC. As of February 15, 2024; based on Sharp findings.
- HEMS: Home energy management system. A system for managing and controlling the energy used in a home.
- Paid services provided jointly by Sharp Energy Solutions Corporation, Sompo Japan Insurance Inc., and Sompo Warranty Inc. To receive this service, users must have comprehensive movables insurance (paid) provided by Sompo Japan Insurance
- Refers to the part of the EV converter that connects with the EV.
About Eee Connect
The three E’s in Eee Connect stand for energy, environment, and economy. By connecting devices and services in a “good” way (in Japanese, the word for “good” is pronounced like the letter E), clean energy generated by sunlight can be used economically and with consideration for the environment.
Eee Connect is Sharp’s own residential energy solution that connects a solar power system, cloud storage battery system, V2H system, cloud HEMS service, home appliances, and residential equipment to make effective use of electricity generated by sunlight.
It is a total solution that only Sharp, a company that began developing solar cells in 1959 and has been involved in the energy business for over 60 years while also developing cutting-edge AI technologies, can provide.
SLIM*1, JAXA’s Spacecraft Equipped with Sharp’s Thin-Film Compound Solar Cells, Makes Successful Pinpoint Landing on the Moon
SLIM, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)’s spacecraft equipped with thin-film compound solar cells developed and manufactured by Sharp, successfully made a pinpoint landing (within 100 meters of target) on the Moon’s surface early on January 20, 2024. It has been confirmed that the solar cells continued to operate normally following the landing. Sharp began developing solar cells for outer space applications in 1967, and the first solar cells were installed on the Ume satellite in 1976. Since then, we have been developing and manufacturing outer space solar cells for nearly half a century as Japan’s sole solar cell manufacturer certified by JAXA, and our solar cells have been installed on about 190 satellites*2 to date.
The thin-film compound solar cells installed on SLIM were developed using the same technology as the triple-junction compound solar module*3 that achieved the world’s highest*4 conversion efficiency of 32.65%*5 in 2022 with the support of NEDO*6. The structure encapsulates the solar cell within a thin film, making it lightweight and flexible enough to be mounted on curved surfaces, thus achieving specifications suitable for applications in outer space that require high efficiency and light weight.
Sharp will continue to pursue research and development of solar cells for aerospace applications and contribute to satellite and space exploration projects, including those of JAXA.
Overview of Thin-Film Compound Solar Cells on Board SLIM
| Structure | Sheet output | Sheet size | Number of sheets |
|---|---|---|---|
|
20.9 W | 297 x 271 x 0.25 mm (H x W x D) Weight approx. 41 g*7 |
26 sheets （total power output: approx. 540 W) |
Right: Thin-film compound solar cells installed on board SLIM
- SLIM (Smart Lander for Investigating Moon) is a small-scale lunar exploration spacecraft developed by JAXA, which plans to demonstrate technologies enabling high-accuracy landings required for future lunar and planetary exploration utilizing small spacecraft.
- As of November 30, 2023.
- A type of solar cell that achieves high conversion efficiency by incorporating three photo-absorption layers made of compounds consisting of two or more elements, for example indium, gallium, and arsenic, such that each layer absorbs light of a different wavelength.
- As of June 6, 2022, for solar modules at the research level (based on Sharp findings).
- Conversion efficiency confirmed by the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST; one of several organizations around the world that officially certifies energy conversion efficiency measurements in solar cells) in February 2022. (Module surface approx. 965 square centimeters; maximum output 31.51 W)
- NEDO: New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization
- Total weight of installed sheets is approximately 1.07 kg.
Tandem/Silicon Stacked Solar Cell Module Achieves the World’s Highest*1 Conversion Efficiency of 33.66%*2
Sharp, working under the Research and Development Project for Mobile Solar Cells*3 sponsored by NEDO*4, has achieved the world's highest conversion efficiency of 33.66% in a stacked solar cell module that combines a tandem double-junction solar cell module*5 and a silicon solar cell module.
The conversion efficiency of this module breaks the world record of 32.65%, which our company achieved under a NEDO project in 2022. The prototype solar cell module has achieved high efficiency by efficiently converting light of various wavelengths into energy by a new structure, which has compound two-junction solar cells on the top layer and silicon solar cells on the bottom layer. Additionally, the thickness of the tandem double-junction solar cells can be reduced to less than one-third that of conventional triple-junction solar cells, reducing material costs.
Going forward, Sharp will continue to conduct research and development to improve the efficiency and reduce the cost of solar photovoltaic modules, with a view to installing them in electric vehicles and mobile equipment as well as in the aerospace and aviation fields.
- As of October 27, 2023, for solar cell modules at the research level (based on Sharp findings).
- Figures confirmed in February 2023 by AIST (National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology) in Japan, one of the world’s official measurement agencies for solar cells [module area: 775 cm2, maximum output: 26.1 W].
- Project objectives include: Development of technology to promote solar power generation as a primary power source; development of technology for creating new markets for photovoltaic power generation; and research and development of solar cells for mobile vehicles and equipment (development of ultra-high-efficiency module technology). Involved in joint research themes with the University of Tokyo and Toyota Institute of Technology. Project period: FY2020 to 2024.
- NEDO: New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization
- Double-junction structure with indium/gallium/phosphide as the top layer and gallium arsenide as the bottom layer.
Sharp Installs Self-Consumption Solar Power System at MinebeaMitsumi*1 Plant in the Philippines
Sharp has installed a solar power system at the Cebu Mitsumi Plant run by MinebeaMitsumi Inc. in the city of Danao, Cebu Island, the Philippines.
Operation began on October 19, 2023, after a ceremony was held at the plant to mark the completion of the installation.
The system has an output of around 7.9 MW dc, giving it one of the largest capacities*2 among self-consumption solar power systems installed on Japanese-affiliated factories in the Philippines.
The system will generate an estimated 12,806 MWh annually. This equates to an annual reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of roughly 6,833 t-CO2. The generated electricity will be used within the plant, allowing it to reduce the amount of electricity it purchases from the grid.
MinebeaMitsumi is installing solar power systems at its bases around the world as part of an environmental policy of further reducing greenhouse gas emissions from its operations. After Thailand, the Philippines is the second country where Sharp has installed a solar power system on a MinebeaMitsumi plant.
Sharp remains committed to spreading the use of renewable energy around the world.
Overview of the Self-Consumption Solar Power System
| Location | Output (module capacity) |
Annual power generation capacity (estimate) | Avoided greenhouse gas emissions (estimate) | Start of operation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cebu Mitsumi Plant (Cebu, the Philippines) |
Approx. 7.9 MW-dc | Approx. 12,806 MWh/year (initial year) |
Approx. 6,833 t-CO2/year (equivalent) |
October 19, 2023 |
- MinebeaMitsumi Inc. develops and manufactures machined components such as bearings, along with motor components, analog semiconductors, measuring devices, and other machinery and electronic components. Headquarters: Kitasaku-gun, Nagano Prefecture, Japan; Representative: Yoshihisa Kainuma, Representative Director, Chairman, and CEO
- As of October 19, 2023; based on Sharp findings.
Reducing Logistics-Related Environmental Impact
Reducing the Environmental Impact of Logistics in Japan
Sharp observes a rule set forth in the Japanese Act on the Rational Use of Energy (Energy Conservation Act) that requires specified shippers to reduce energy intensity by 1% or greater per year. All Sharp Group companies in Japan are working to reduce the environmental impact and costs associated with logistics.
In fiscal 2023, Sharp Group greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from shipping activities in Japan were 11,000 tons CO2. For Sharp Corporation, energy intensity was improved by an average of 3.1% for the most recent five years (fiscal 2019 to 2023). Sharp is steadily implementing a modal shift*1, a change from conventional trucking to more environmentally friendly modes of transport, such as shipping (non-international coastal trading vessels) and rail (Japan Railways containers). And, by unloading imported goods at harbors chosen for their proximity to their main sales locations, Sharp is reducing re-transport between distribution centers. These efforts enable Sharp to reduce the environmental impact of its distribution activities. For shipments, Sharp has been certified with an Eco Rail Mark*2 by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism and the Railway Freight Association.
- To shift freight transport from conventional trucking to more environmentally friendly modes of transport, such as rail and shipping.
- Products or companies that use a certain amount of rail transport for freight are given Eco Rail Mark certification. The mark is used on items such as product packaging and brochures to inform the public that a company uses environmentally friendly modes of transport.
GHG Emissions from Freight Shipments (Japan)
Reducing the Environmental Impact of International Logistics
Sharp has a wide range of initiatives to reduce the amount of GHGs that are emitted as a result of international shipping. The company is reducing airfreight volume as it switches to environmentally friendly modes of transport, and it is also improving load efficiency. Further, it is reviewing shipping routes and switching to harbors that are closer to the final destinations for products. Sharp is also switching to suppliers located closer to its factories.
In fiscal 2023, Sharp’s GHG emissions from international transport were 112 thousand tons CO2.