- Ford has installed large solar canopy car parks in South Africa (Silverton Assembly Plant) and Thailand (Ford Thailand Manufacturing).
- Ford says more than 20,800 Rangers per annum can be manufactured using sun-generated power.
Ford has installed large solar canopy car parks in South Africa (Silverton Assembly Plant) and Thailand (Ford Thailand Manufacturing).
Ford is committed to building a more sustainable, inclusive, and equitable transportation future. The company says that it is working toward sourcing 100 per cent carbon-free electricity for global manufacturing by 2035. The brand is on its way to achieving 70.5 per cent of carbon-free electricity used in global manufacturing operations in 2023.
At Ford Ranger and Ford Everest production facilities in South Africa and Thailand, solar power is vital in helping Ford achieve its goal. Indeed, Ford says it now boasts the largest solar canopy car parks in Africa (Silverton Assembly Plant) and Thailand (Ford Thailand Manufacturing).
“Solar canopy car parks are an incredibly exciting opportunity for Ford as they allow us to utilise spaces that would otherwise have limited use,” said Andrea Cavallaro, director of operations, International Market Group, Ford.
“Car parks have incredible potential for photovoltaic systems, converting solar energy into electricity,” said Cavallaro. “The advantage is that they provide shelter for finished vehicles from the rain and excessive heat while also providing power for nearby facilities.”
Ford’s Silverton Assembly Plant in Pretoria, has completed a 13.5-megawatt solar carport with parking for more than 3,500 vehicles in 2022 and now contributes 18 per cent of the electricity needed to produce each Ranger. Ford says that more than 20,800 Rangers per annum can be manufactured using energy harnessed from the sun.
Similarly, at Ford Thailand Manufacturing (FTM), a 7.7-megawatt solar carport has recently been switched on, providing shelter for more than 1,500 vehicles. The solar roof contributes to an annual reduction of more than 5,700 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and contributes up to 20 per cent of the energy needed to produce every single Ranger and Ranger Raptor. Around 21,000 Ranger/Ranger Raptors at FTM can be built using solar power alone every year.
Auto Alliance Thailand announced plans to build an 8-megawatt floating solar energy array near its Rayong facility this year. The project is scheduled to go online in September and will offset more than 5,400 tons of CO2 emissions per year. This will supplement the 6-megawatt solar project the plant already has in operation, making AAT Ford’s largest user of solar energy in the region at 14 megawatts.
“At Ford, we’re focused on environmental quality, both in terms of what we build and how we build. We’ve continued to push ourselves to conserve water, reduce waste and transition to carbon-free electricity in manufacturing. Initiatives like solar canopy car parks and floating solar farms are an incredibly vital part of our Road to Better commitment, which helps build a more sustainable, inclusive and equitable transportation future,” said Cavallaro.
The director of operations noted, “That these systems can make use of otherwise inert space and contribute in a real way to our production needs while reducing our reliance on fossil fuels for energy is an important contribution in our ongoing ambition to help build a better world.”