October 20, 2013

Ohira, Japan (Agence France Presse ) 19Oct

As the impact of Fukishima continues to terrify the Japanese people, a remote Toyota plant in northeastern Japan is poinitng the way forward after the devastating quake-tsunami more than two years after it was completely shut it down.

Employees roll out more than 100,000 Corolla and Yaris sedans a year and the factory looks like most operated by the world’s biggest automaker.

But the plant is unusual for something that cannot easily be seen: it produces its own power – and its own peppers.

A gas-fired power system supplies 7,800 kW of energy — about 70% of present needs — to help keep production moving, and virtually nothing is lost.

The factory recycles heat from the burning of gas and uses it to dry the paint on finished vehicles. Hot water from the gas turbine runs through pipes into a nearby greenhouse that grows green peppers, which will later be sold.

Solar panels also supply some power to the plant.

The factory is tapped into the local energy “micro-grid” and could supply the nearby village of Ohira in case of another disaster.…