When Kameyama Plant No. 2 was launched, environmental planning moved ahead with Ms. Fukaya in the driver’s seat. Her strategy sounds surprisingly simple and bold: “If we’re going to do it at all, then let’s build a new environmental system that’s never been done anywhere else.”Ms. Fukaya’s determination to achieve what had never been achieved before is evident in Kameyama Plant’s photovoltaic power generating system. Capable of generating more than 5,000 kW of power, it is the world’s largest photovoltaic power system^* for installation on buildings. Yet, achieving the figure of 5,000 kW was never Ms. Fukaya’s goal. Rather, she simply aimed to

Photovoltaic (PV) power system installation with a generating capacity of 5,210 kW

More proof can be found in Kameyama Plant’s fuel cell system. Ms. Fukaya’s plan to “make it on a scale that is beyond comparison with other facilities” resulted in one of the largest fuel cell systems of its kind in Japan. And, as for the large amount of water used in the manufacturing process, of course Ms. Fukaya set out to “recycle 100% of it.” On paper, it seems as if those objectives could be quite easily achieved, but the reality must have been quite different. On that subject, however, Ms. Fukaya does not speak of tough times, preferring instead to modestly note that “We accomplished everything we wanted to do.” And there were other demands as well-particularly regarding the factory’s energy efficiency. It was not merely a matter of increasing the scale of energy systems; elaborate calculations had to be made. Given the size of Kameyama Plant, it is easy to imagine what an enormous undertaking that was. Feedback received at exhibitions and reports in the mass media made it clear that serious concern for the environment is growing.

“Our work cannot play a direct role in production or sales. However, I think that the highly advanced environmental measures we took are one reason that the Kameyama Models have become their own brand.”

Kameyama Plant No. 2 began operation in 2006. Ms. Fukaya commented that, “If I had not joined Sharp, I would never have had this once-in-a-lifetime experience.” Now that work on such a huge scale has been completed, one might expect Ms. Fukaya to be filled with a comfortable sense of accomplishment, but that is not the case: “We’re at the stage where the hard part has been done for the time being.” She continued, “I think communication skills will also be necessary in our work on the environment in the future. To enable the most people possible to learn about the environment, we must find ways to explain difficult technologies in an easy-to-understand manner. Otherwise, they will not be understood.”
In environmental lessons conducted at primary and junior high schools in cooperation with the Weather Caster Network (WCN), a nonprofit educational organization of weather forecasters in the media, the principles underlying cogeneration are explained by making a comparison with the workings of a bicycle. It’s a way to convey to students the mechanism of power generation and the importance of the environment. In this, it appears Ms. Fukaya is thinking beyond the bounds of Sharp’s corporate PR. “In the future, some of these children might go on to become engineers. When they do, I want them to be environmentally conscious engineers. The fact is, when we make things, garbage is generated and energy is consumed in some form. We need to keep this in mind. Otherwise, nothing will change.”

Ms. Fukaya envisions an environmental system built on experience gained at the Kameyama Plant. “It’s just my personal opinion, but In terms of enhancing competitiveness, blackboxing the details of LCD panel production to the greatest extent possible is absolutely necessary. I think, however, that our experience and knowledge related to the environment should be made widely available to the public and should not be blackboxed.” It seems that Ms. Fukaya is able to see far beyond the borders of the vast Kameyama Plant.

*  For systems installed on buildings as of September 19, 2006. Based on Sharp research.