Tokyo: Japan's largest liner NYK Line (Nippon Yusen Kaisha) and refiner Nippon Oil Corporation are designing a ship that will be partially powered by solar energy.
The leading Japanese companies said solar panels capable of generating 40 kilowatts of electricity would be placed on a 60,000 car carrier to be used by Toyota Motor Corp. Toyota is one of NYK's most important clients and also one of the most stringent customers when it comes to environmental footprints.
The solar panels should save up to 6.5% of fuel oil used in powering diesel engines.
According to Hideyuki Dohi, general manager at Nippon Oil's energy system development department, the system would help cut CO2 emission by 1-2% or some 20 tonnes per year.
NYK Line is slated to invest some $1.4 million in the solar panel to be designed by Nippon Oil.
"If it's possible, we want to aim for the full commercialisation of the system in the next three to five years," said Nippon Oil executive vice-president Ikutoshi Matsumura. [28/8/08]
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