KYOTO, Japan--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Kyocera Group (NYSE:KYO)(TOKYO:6971) and SoftBank Group subsidiary in charge of renewable energy business, SB Energy Corp. (CEO: Masayoshi Son; herein "SB Energy"), today announced that the two companies have been selected by Kyoto City to build and operate a 4.2-megawatt (MW) solar power plant. The utility-scale solar power plant will be the first of its kind in Kyoto Prefecture, and becomes the largest solar power installation in the prefecture.
Helping Kyoto move towards energy independence, Kyocera Group companies will be in charge of solar module supply (KYOCERA Corporation), system design and material procurement (KYOCERA Solar Corporation), and the construction of the mega-solar project (KYOCERA Communication Systems Co., Ltd.).
SB Energy will be the operator of the large-scale solar power plant, and aims to have the system operating in time for the start of the new feed-in tariff (FIT) which will go into place on July 1, 2012.
Approximately 17,000 Kyocera modules equaling 4.2MW of solar power will be installed at two facilities (2.1MW each) in Fushimi-ku, Kyoto City. This will generate roughly 4.2GWh of electricity annually, which is enough to supply power for approximately 1,000 households*1.
The system will use Kyocera's patented anti-dust modules which have a structure that prevents dust and water from collecting on the surface — by allowing rain water to wash off build-up via drainage channels along the frame of the module (these modules are only available to the Japanese market). This helps prevent the adverse effect of dust build-up on the module's glass surface which decreases the power output.
Kyocera holds the top share*2 in the Japanese market for installation volume of larges-scale, public- and industrial-use solar power by meeting the diverse requirements of customers with a wide range of products and individually tailored engineering technology. Kyocera will continue to meet the needs of its customers and contribute to solving environmental problems starting with the reduction of greenhouse gases.
| Location | Fushimi-ku, Kyoto City, Japan | |
| Area | 89,800m2 maximum (still under design) | |
| Power output | 4.2MW (2.1MW at two locations) | |
| No. of modules | Approx. 17,000 | |
| Annual power production (estimate) | Approx. 4.2GWh | |
| Start of operations (planned) |
No.1 facility: July 1, 2012 No.2 facility: September 1, 2012 |
|
*1 Based on calculation of 4,193kWh per household.
*2 As of March
2012, based on research by Kyocera.
For more information about Kyocera Solar Energy: http://global.kyocera.com/reliability/
Kyocera Corporation (NYSE:KYO)(TOKYO:6971) (http://global.kyocera.com/), the parent and global headquarters of the Kyocera Group, was founded in 1959 as a producer of fine ceramics (also known as "advanced ceramics"). By combining these engineered materials with metals and plastics, and integrating them with other technologies, Kyocera has become a leading supplier of solar power generating systems, telecommunications equipment, printers, copiers, electronic components, semiconductor packages, cutting tools and industrial ceramics. During the year ended March 31, 2011, the company's net sales totaled 1.27 trillion yen (approx. USD15.3 billion). The company is ranked #604 on Forbes magazine's 2011 "Global 2000" listing of the world's largest publicly traded companies.