Kikkoman Foods, Inc. in the U.S. and Kikkoman Food Products Company in Japan have decided to install solar power-generation systems at their respective plants, as the company strives to support efforts to reduce CO₂.

Kikkoman Foods, Inc., which produces Kikkoman Soy Sauce and other products in the U.S., will adopt a solar power-generation system of about 106kW at its plant in California in order to lower dependency on non-renewable energy and reduce environmental loads. The system is scheduled to start operation at the end of September 2010.

The company has implemented various environmental measures, including reduction of waste generated during the manufacturing process, energy conservation in production lines and drainage-water management.

The new solar power-generation system will be installed on the roof of a parking lot adjacent to the California plant, and is expected to generate an annual output of about 150,000kWh. This electricity is intended primarily for running the plant’s production lines, as well as for lighting and air conditioning of the building itself. Any unused electricity when the plant is not in operation will be sold.

California has long been at the forefront of environmental conservation; by introducing its new solar power-generation system, Kikkoman Foods, Inc. not only contributes toward the reduction of CO₂, it makes a strong and very visible contribution to the community while underscoring the company’s commitment to effective environmental conservation activities.

At Kikkoman Food Products Company in Japan, a new packaging building began operations on June 21 of this year. This building also is equipped with a solar power-generation system that will reduce environmental loads. The 672 solar cell panels installed on the roof generate about 90,000kWh of electricity each year, which is used mostly for indoor lighting.