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Environmental Measures in Products (Details) |
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Environmental Measures in Products (Details) |
| Kyocera Group develops various environmentally globally friendly products such as fine ceramics and solar cells. |
| Fine Ceramic Products | LED lighting | Solar Power Generation System | Automobile Parts | Cutting Tools | Printers and Multi-functional Products | Organic Materials |
| Fine Ceramic Products |
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| Fine ceramics—Kyocera's core technology—are excellent examples of ecological materials which contribute to environmental preservation. Taking advantage of their superior resistance to abrasion and heat, Kyocera provides a variety of environmentally friendly products that contribute to society. |
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| Molten Aluminum Processing Parts |
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Kyocera's silicon nitride material has superior characteristics in thermal stability, thermal shock resistance, mechanical strength and corrosion resistance. Molten aluminum processing parts* using this material have the following features as compared with conventional cast iron parts: (1) reduction of elution contamination to molten aluminum, (2) longer life and economical improvement, (3) ease of handling (smaller specifi c gravity), (4) reduction of deposition (lower wettability with molten aluminum), and (5) low energy loss (smaller specific heat).
Silicon nitride is also a ceramic material widely used in automobile engine parts.
* Molten aluminum processing parts
Parts used in aluminum die-cast machines such as hot chambers and cold chambers |
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| Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) |
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Kyocera is working to develop Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) by applying our fine ceramics technology we have accumulated since our company was established.
The fuel cell, with its high energy efficiency, is expected to be a new source of energy. It should lead to the reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, which is considered a cause of global warming. It also releases extremely low amounts of nitrogen oxide (NOx) and sulfur oxide (SOx) into the atmosphere as well as having very low noise.
Since 2004, we have worked in cooperation with Osaka Gas Co., Ltd., to increase the durability and reduce the size of a home SOFC cogeneration system in order to facilitate the practical realization of this technology. Since 2007, we have installed 45 units in actual residences in the Osaka Gas area, demonstrating its high energy saving performance.
We agreed on joint development with Osaka Gas Co., Ltd., Toyota Motor Corporation, and Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. in March 2009 and aim to complete development in the early 2010’s. |
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The generating unit was jointly developed by Osaka Gas Co., Ltd., and the hot-water supply/heating unit was developed by Osaka Gas Co., Ltd. and Chofu Seisakusho Co., Ltd.
Small SOFC Generating Unit (left) and
Slim Hot-water Supply/heating Unit (right)
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| SOFC Cogeneration System (Total System Flow) |
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| LED lighting |
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| Kyocera has developed LED lighting using the fine ceramics technology we have acquired since our foundation. Resin is used for the package in general conventional LED lighting but its life is said to be about 40,000 hours (about 4 years and 7 months).The LED lighting developed by Kyocera this time has realized a life of about 100,000 hours (about 11 years and 5 months)*, which is 2.5 times that of the conventional LED lighting, by using ceramics for the package. |
The ceiling area lighting at convenience stores is costly in power consumption and is a cause of trouble to owners.By combining the illuminance sensor with the high-efficiency LED lighting apparatus, Kyocera has succeeded in reducing ceiling area lighting power consumption and CO2 emissions by half.
Using fine-ceramics technology, Kyocera has developed long life and low-power-consumption LED lighting, thus contributing to realization of a low carbon society.
* Deterioration test data (under the normal environmental conditions)
The adoption of the ceramic substrate and ceramic reflector considerably reduces heat and light deterioration. Results from the running test showed the reduction of output was within 10% for about 40,000 hours. It was confirmed that the expected life exceeded 100,000 hours in the accelerated test. (Based on “expected life of light source: lumen maintenance factor of 70%”) |
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| Solar Power Generation System |
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Solar module of Kyocera realizes the methods that considered setting environment by using various innovations and improving characteristics. For example, the hollow space provided on the aluminum frame that surrounds the solar module enable dust and dirt that has accumulated on the glass surface of the module to be removed by rainwater. With theses hollow spaces, the module is free from being soiled or dust accumulated on its surface.
The new module is especially suited to facilities with flat-surface roofs on which solar power module are mounted at low angles of inclination, such as factories, warehouses and office building. |
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| Environmental Accounting in Solar Power Generating System |
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 Energy Creation effect of the solar power generation system |
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The value obtained by subtracting the used electric energy during production*2, *3 from the accumulative electricity*1 generated after installing the solar power generation system is calculated as "energy effect."
The electric power to be consumed for producing a 1 kW solar power generation system is about 1,550 kWh*4. The electric power to be generated by this solar power generation system over 20 years (expected lifetime) will be 20,640 kWh*1 therefore the energy effect per kW will be 19,090 kWh.
The solar power generation systems Kyocera has produced and sold so far total 1,253 MW and the energy effect by these systems reached a total of 2,349 GWh in 2008. The energy effect after continuing power generation for the next 20 years will be 24,970 GWh and consequently, the CO2 emission reduction effect will be 8,989,000 tons*5. This corresponds to about 10% of the amount of carbon dioxide absorbed by all forests in Japan per year*6, *7.
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| *1. |
Calculated from the average of expected power energy at 16 sites of Kyocera Corporation around the country. |
| *2. |
The estimated used electric energy during production is calculated (system scale 30 MW/year roof mount) with the energy payback period of 2.2 years for a single-year output of less than 100 MW, and the energy payback period of 1.5 years for 100 MW or more and the expected lifetime is 20 years (source: "Survey Research of Solar Power Generation Assessment" 1996 NEDO Commissioned business working paper (Photovoltaic Power Generation Technology Research Association), March 1997). |
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The estimated electric energy used during production of solar power generation systems that were shipped from 1992 to 2007 was recorded in the year when the products began to generate electricity. (Example: The produced electric energy in 1992 was recorded in 1993.) |
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Kyocera calculates the payback time of 1.5 years because the annual production volume exceeds 100 MW at present. |
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360g-CO2 per kWh |
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The CO2 sink by 1 ha (10,000 m2) of forest is 3.57 tons-CO2 (source: Solar Power Generation Introduction Guidebook < Main > 2000 Revised Edition NEDO) |
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Calculated assuming that the forest area in Japan is 251,000 km2 (Source: Forestry Agency "Present State of Forest Resources (as of March 31, 2007)"). |
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| Automobile Parts |
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| Based on its excellent material technologies, Kyocera supplies a variety of automobile parts that contribute to improved fuel consumption efficiency and reduced exhaust gas pollution. |
| Piezoelectric-Stacks |
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| There have been many recent improvements in the areas of combustion, fuel efficiency, catalysts, and diesel particulate filters (DPF) that reduce the hazardous substances found in diesel engine exhaust gases. Improved combustion requires high—pressure injection of fuel in extremely precise quantities. Kyocera is developing "piezoelectric—stacks" with high precision and rapid response capabilities for use with injectors that provide precision control of the injected fuel quantity. We contribute to the prevention of global warming by providing these piezoelectric-stacks to the market. |
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| Cutting Tools |
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Because of superior strength and durability, Kyocera's ceramic tools are widely used in high-precision machining operations required by the automotive and IT industries. The tools also have the advantage of better surface finishing and long product life. |
| Recycling of Used Cutting Tools and Tip Cases |
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Kyocera started a system to collect and recycle cutting tools used by customers and the tool holders in March, 2006.
Kyocera has been using resources effectively as well as contributing for waste reduction by collecting used tips and the tool holders at request of our customers, and recycle them properly as raw materials, RPF (solid fuel) or slag used for roadbed material. |
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| Printers and Multi-functional Products |
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| KYOCERA MITA's printers and multi-functional products have been developed based the ECOSYS Concept. This is a concept where environmental ecology and economy are balanced on a high dimension and intend to be integrated into the IT system. |
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Recycled Multi-functional Product KM-5035RC
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| Organic Materials |
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| In its systematic research and development in pursuing new possibilities for the field of chemistry, KYOCERA Chemical Corp. has already begun developing technologically advanced products in support of global environmental protection. These include halogenfree, antimony-free, fire-retardant materials and lead-free mounting materials, in addition to the recycling of production materials. These achievements result in the production of "green materials." |
Halogenated elements, including chlorine and bromine, may produce hazardous materials such as dioxins when burned. Their use is controlled by chemical substance regulations in various countries throughout the world, a practice that began in Europe.
KYOCERA Chemical Corp. produces many halogen-free* materials that comply with these laws, thus helping to minimize the environmental impact of regulated chemical substances.
* Based on the standard value of JPCA (Japan Electronics Packaging and Circuits Association). |
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Molding compounds for semiconductor encapsulation
Printed circuit board materials |
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) is a generic term for organic compounds which become gaseous at room temperature and include substances such as toluene and xylene. VOC is considered
one of the causes of suspended particulates in photochemical smog, which negatively impacts health.
KYOCERA Chemical Corp. develops and sells styrene-free insulating varnishes used in the insulation of motors.
These insulating varnishes have been shown to have VOC levels of 1/50 or less than that of existing Styrene-type products and to have considerably less odor. |
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Insulating varnish |
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| Related info |
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