Kirin Brewery Co. said Thursday that it will start using a fuel-cell power supply system in October provided by Marubeni Corp.
The cost-saving system will be built by the major trading house at Kirin's plant in Toride, Ibaraki Prefecture, to supply electricity and steam. The system is expected to supply about 5 percent of the plant's total power consumption, the nation's biggest brewery said, adding that it plans to consider introducing similar systems at other plants as well.
It is the first time for a domestic trading house to enter the power supply market with a fuel-cell system.