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| Honda develops technologies and manufactures products while paying attention to society’s development, including those occurring in people’s lifestyles. In 1998, we unveiled a cogeneration system for households, which utilizes the technologies that we have accumulated. Also in 2002, we unveiled next-generation thin film solar cells. We are thus always developing and proposing new technologies. |
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Honda has been aggressively promoting research and development for using environment-friendly energies, and has developed technologies for next-generation lifestyles, including devices to improve energy efficiency within people’s households. Based on the know-how that we have accumulated, we will continue to make various proposals to support more people in leading environment-friendly lives. |
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In 1998, Honda released a series of household devices using clean energies, including the GF160V, which was powered by natural gas and was widely applicable as a power source, and a household cogeneration system for power generation and hot water supply. By using natural gas as the fuel, CO2 and NOx emissions were greatly reduced compared with cases in which gasoline-powered products were used. Further, with our natural gas-powered products, we have achieved the goal of “zero CFC-12.”
Furthermore, in 2001, we developed a cogeneration unit for households and put it into pilot operation in a number of households. In 2003, we began sale of the cogeneration unit through gas companies. In 2006, the total energy efficiency of the unit was improved to 85.5%, which could lead to the reduction of primary energy consumption at households and a 30% reduction in CO2 emissions.
In the United States, a system composed of Honda’s small household cogeneration unit and a heating unit using waste heat was jointly released in March 2007 under the brand name of freewatt™ by American Honda Motor Co., Inc. and Climate Energy LLC. Sale began in cold areas in the northeastern part of the United States and is planned to be expanded to other cold areas in the country. |
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Honda has also been developing advanced technologies to use
solar energy. The manufacturing of solar cells used for solar power generation
requires relatively large amounts of energy and it is important to reduce the
environmental impacts of the cells throughout their lifecycles. To meet this requirement, in 2002, we unveiled our next-generation thin film solar cells made from a compound of copper, indium, gallium and selenium (CIGS), which make it possible to reduce energy required for the production of cells by half compared with that of conventional crystal silicon solar cells. In 2006, we established the subsidiary Honda Soltec Co., Ltd. to manufacture and sell next-generation solar cells, thereby making a full-scale entry into the solar cell business. This subsidiary plans to start the limited sale of thin film solar cells produced by Honda Engineering in specific areas in Japan in 2007 and to begin mass production of solar cells at a capacity of 27.5 MW a year at its new factory in the fall of 2007, with a view to marketing the new-generation solar cells across the country. |
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