Sony goes green with 16GWh of bioenergy; targets 4-fold CO2 reduction by 2010

As part of its efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, Sony Corporation is actively promoting the use of renewables across Sony Group companies in Japan and around the world. The electronics giant announces it has agreed a contract to purchase 16 million kWh of biomass energy per year to green its facilities in Japan. In 2006, the widespread implementation of renewable energy across the Sony Group helped reduce its CO2 emissions by approximately 13,000 tons worldwide. Sony will continue to advance its use of renewable energy, with the aim of increasing its contribution to CO2 reduction approximately fourfold to 50,000 tons through 2010 (compared to 2006).

In Japan, Sony Group companies have used the 'Green Power Certification System', jointly established by Sony and a the Japan Natural Energy Company, to purchase renewable energy generated at distantly located facilities since 2001. In October 2007, Sony agreed the contract to annually purchase an additional 16 million kWh of wood biomass energy. Combined with its existing contracts, the annual amount of renewable energy now purchased by the Sony Group in Japan amounts to 36.4 million kWh, making it Japan's largest buyer of renewable energy under this system. Bioenergy accounts for more than half of this amount.

Sony began introducing renewable energy at its overseas offices and sites 2002, and in November this year, converted its two Austrian sites to entirely renewable energy sources. Consequently, a total of nine European sites are now fully powered by renewable energy, representing 41% of Sony's total energy consumption in Europe.

Sony DADC (Digital Audio Disc Corporation) Austria (optical disc production facility), as well as Sony Austria (sales company) shifted their entire energy supply to hydropower this year. As a result, the 59 million kWh of energy purchased by the two facilities will now be from entirely renewable sources, representing an annual contribution to CO2 reduction of approximately 11,000 tons.

Sony will continue to implement wide-ranging measures to increase its use of renewable energy sources and promote energy conservation, and will aim to further reduce its greenhouse gas emissions through these efforts.

In October this year, Sony signed an agreement to purchase 16 million kWh of biomass renewable energy. Together with its existing contract for 15.5 million kWh of bioenergy per year, Sony is now purchasing a total of 31.5 million kWh of green energy per year under the 'Green Power Certification System'.

This latest agreement has been reached with Noshiro Forestry Resource Utilization Cooperative (Akita Prefecture), for energy generated using their wood biomass power facility. Established in February 2003, this facility generates approximately 20 million kWh of electric power per year. Under the agreement, Sony will receive an annual supply of 16 million kWh of electricity from this facility:
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This energy is then used by Sony Group companies across Japan: Sony Corp. utilizes 31.5 million kWh, Sony Group Companies in Japan will rely on 4.9 million kWh (with Hall Network Inc. greening its operations with 2.7 million kWh), Music ON ITV Inc. draws on 700,000 kWh, and Sony Enterprise Co., Ltd will utilize 1.5 million kWh.

In total, Sony Group companies in Japan have now agreed contracts for the supply of 36.4 million kWh of renewable energy in fiscal 2007, equivalent to the reduction of approximately 13,760 tons in CO2 emissions.

Sony Corporation is a leading manufacturer of audio, video, game, communications, key device and information technology products for the consumer and professional markets. With its music, pictures, computer entertainment and on-line businesses, Sony is uniquely positioned to be the leading personal broadband entertainment company in the world. Sony recorded consolidated annual sales of approximately $70 billion for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2007.

The Japan Natural EnergyCompany's Green Power Certification System is a scheme to encourage corporate and other customers to use natural energy as one of their voluntary measures for energy conservation and environmental protection under an arrangement that environmental value added, such as the energy-saving (fossil fuel conservation) and CO2 emission-reducing effects of electricity generated with renewable energy sources, be materialized in the form of a Certificate of Green Power.

Hat tip to Jean-Jacques!

References:
Sony Global: Sony Advances its Use of Renewable Energy Sources; Targets Fourfold Contribution to CO2 Reduction by Fiscal 2010 - December 5, 2007.