| Press Release: KYOCERA to Start Production at New Solar Cell Plant |
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In recent years, the solar energy market has been steadily expanding, and global demand is increasing. In Japan, the residential-use solar market has been expanding due to the reintroduction last year of government subsidies and a doubling in the purchase price of surplus power (feed-in-tariff). In the U.S., governmental subsidies and Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) programs* are spurring demand, and future growth of the market is expected. In Europe, despite a decrease in feed-in-tariff rates in Germany in July, the German market is still experiencing high-growth. In addition, countries like France and Italy are emerging and are expected to help drive global demand. In order to meet expanding global demand, Kyocera is ramping up its annual production to 600MW this fiscal year — an increase of 50 percent over last fiscal year. Furthermore, by concentrating on product quality, the company is working to decrease the cost of solar energy by improving cell conversion efficiency and enhancing the company’s own productivity. In 1982, Kyocera launched the world's first mass-produced multicrystalline silicon solar cells using the casting method. Since then, Kyocera has been enhancing conversion efficiency by improving its technology and productivity. Today, multicrystalline silicon solar cells have become the mainstream method used to manufacture solar cells worldwide, due to the superiority in production cost, and energy conversion efficiency. Kyocera modules have been employed in diverse installations ranging from large-scale power plants, public and industrial facilities to residential homes all over the world. With the expansion of the solar energy market, Kyocera hopes to contribute to the prevention of global warming through further developing its solar business. *Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) programs require that a certain percentage of utility providers’ electricity be generated from renewable energy sources. |