Toyota Motor Manufacturing France Installs SolarWall? System

Valenciennes, France: June 22, 2011 — Toyota Motor Manufacturing France (TMMF) has inaugurated a SolarWall® installation at its facility in Valenciennes, France which produces the Yaris (Vitz) for Europe. The SolarWall® technology is a solar air heating system that uses the sun’s energy to heat ventilation air for commercial and industrial buildings. It substantially reduces traditional heating fuel expenses and GHG emissions. This technology, developed by Conserval Engineering, will help TMMF with their commitment to deploy renewable energy to reduce CO2 emissions.

“This innovative technology will contribute to reducing CO2 emissions by the plant,” the automaker said in a statement. TMMF is one of five plants designated by worldwide to develop pioneering initiatives towards sustainable manufacturing.

At 12m high by 33m long, spanning an area of 400m2, the SolarWall system is incorporated into the south wall of the press shop. When sunlight strikes the wall, the panels absorb heat, allowing warm air to heat the building’s interior which displaces the conventional heating load.

The SolarWall will raise the temperature of the air entering the building by up to 9°C during the coldest months of the year. TMMF estimates that the installation will result in annual energy savings of up to 25% over conventional heating methods with CO2 emissions reduced by about 20 tonnes a year.