With the effects of global warming becoming increasingly apparent, preventative measures must be taken now, with not a moment to waste, before it's too late.

In June 2007, Cool Earth 50, a long-term global initiative for reducing the combined greenhouse gas emissions of all countries to half the current level by 2050, was proposed at the G8 Summit in Heiligendamm, where it gained support from those in attendance.

We recognize that the global warming prevention is a pressing issue, and is advancing an in-house examination about mid/long-term targeted reduction and concrete measures in 2050.

The cogeneration system installed at the Kameyama Plant represents an efficient use of energy. It uses city gas to fuel a gas turbine to generate electricity, and the waste heat generated in the process is captured and used as a source of energy for air conditioning and hot-water supply.

This in-house system generates about one-third of the total electric power needs of the entire plant, reducing CO2 emissions by about 30,000 tons per year. This system was evaluated by the Japan Cogeneration Center, and in May 2006 received the Energy Conservation Encouragement Award in the 4th Japan Cogeneration Center Award sponsored by that organization.

At the Kameyama Plant, four molten-carbonate fuel cells have been installed which generate power through the reaction of oxygen and hydrogen. The fuel cell system is one of the largest systems in Japan, with a capacity of 1,000 kW, and all of its power is used for in-plant manufacturing. As well, the waste heat from the system is recycled as steam. Compared to purchasing electricity, this system emits about 3,000 tons less CO2 annually. Because it continues generating power at night and on rainy days, it combines with photovoltaic power for a hybrid system that offers a stable supply of power.

By fiscal 2005, all lines at the Mie Plant had been equipped with PFC scrubbers. This reduced PFC emissions to less than 10% of what they would be without this equipment. At the Kameyama Plant, scrubbers dissolve PFC, and in some production processes impurities are removed from PFC gas and reused.

Exhaust gas from production equipment containing CF4 or SF6

Sharp first launched R&D on solar cells in 1959, and has worked toward the widespread use and expansion of solar energy for almost half a century.

The estimated amount of electrical power generated in fiscal 2007 by solar cells manufactured by Sharp during the 20-year period from fiscal 1987 to 2006 was approximately 1,870 GWh. This is equivalent to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of approximately 0.77 million t-CO2. See this for details

Meanwhile, on factories, by fiscal 2006 Sharp had installed photovoltaic power systems on all of its domestic production sites in efforts to use clean energy that reduces CO2 emissions. On the Kameyama Plant No. 2, the world's largest photovoltaic power system, a 5,150-kW system, was installed when it was constructed. As well, through cooperation with Kameyama City, Sharp and Cenergy Co. (Chubu Electric Power Group) installed a 200-kW system that floats on a reservoir adjacent to the plant. (This is a joint research project for fiscal 2006 with the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization [NEDO], an independent administrative agency of the Japanese government.) Not only does this system generate electricity; it also inhibits degradation of the water quality caused by the growth of algae, by covering about one-third of the reservoir surface and blocking sunlight. Rainwater accumulating in the pond is used to air condition the plant.

In addition to the Kameyama Plant, Sharp and Kansai Electric will install solar power generation facilities on Sharp’s and other companies’ buildings in the Sakai Manufacturing Complex(Sakai City, Osaka Prefecture, Japan) which production operations scheduled to start by March 2010, thus creating an in-complex source of power. The two companies are currently working out the details of the running of these solar power facilities. Output will be approximately 9MW(9,000kW) to start, with maximum of 18MW(18,000kW).

On the roof of the plant, Sharp-Roxy Corporation (M) Sdn. Bhd. (SRC) built a fence around a cooling tower of air-conditioning equipment to improve cooling efficiency. On the roof of Sharp Electronics (Taiwan) Co., Ltd. (SET), hoses have been installed that disperse recycled water and lower the temperature of the building, thus reducing the energy for air conditioning.