Since 2000, Ford's North American operations have cut volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions associated with the painting process (by far the largest sources of VOC emissions) by 25 percent. In 2006, these operations emitted 26 grams per square meter of surface coated, beating their target of 29 grams per square meter. Because the control equipment used to reduce VOC emissions consumes significant amounts of energy, we have worked to identify innovative approaches to painting operations that meet cost, quality and production goals while allowing us to reduce energy use significantly and maintain environmental compliance.
As one element of this approach, Ford developed an innovative fumes-to-fuel system in partnership with Detroit Edison. Initially tested at the Ford Rouge Center, the system concentrates fumes containing VOC emissions from solvent-based paint for use as fuel to generate electricity. The Rouge test fed the concentrated fumes into a fuel cell.
