KYOCERA Surpasses 2 Million Solar Modules Produced in North America

Production capacity in San Diego and Tijuana manufacturing facilities has doubled in the last two years

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Kyocera Solar Inc., a leading supplier of reliable solar modules and renewable energy solutions, today announced that Kyocera's North American manufacturing facilities have surpassed production of two million photovoltaic (PV) solar modules. Kyocera has been producing modules in North America since 2004 and its solar solutions are used in a variety of applications including residential, commercial, and utility-scale projects across the Americas, Australia and select regions worldwide.

“This milestone demonstrates Kyocera’s ongoing leadership in growing the solar industry worldwide”

Kyocera has been a leading developer of innovative power solutions for more than 37 years, setting repeated world records in multicrystalline silicon cell efficiency and most recently producing cells with the highest conversion efficiency level in the world at 17.8 percent¹. Manufacturing facilities in San Diego, California and Tijuana, Mexico produce PV solutions for rural and urban areas, harvesting the sun’s energy to help power everything from remote villages solely reliant on solar power to large sports arenas and utility-scale solar farms.

“This milestone demonstrates Kyocera’s ongoing leadership in growing the solar industry worldwide,” said Steve Hill, president, Kyocera Solar Inc. “It took more than five years for Kyocera to reach the one million module mark at our North American operations and only two years to double it. We’re seeing many regions increasingly embrace high-quality solar energy solutions, and ongoing innovations from Kyocera will continue to improve efficiencies.”

Kyocera produced its first PV modules more than 30 years ago in Japan and expanded its production to Tijuana, Mexico in 2004. The Company increased its production again with its first U.S. production of solar modules in San Diego in 2010. In addition to the operations in San Diego and Tijuana, Kyocera currently has solar module manufacturing facilities in Japan, China and the Czech Republic.

Twenty-five Kyocera facilities worldwide feature their own on-site solar electric systems, with total generating capacity of 2.7 megawatts — including a 214-kilowatt Solar Grove parking lot in San Diego and a 100-kilowatt rooftop system in Tijuana. The Company’s solar solutions are powering installations at notable locations in the San Diego/Tijuana region, including the San Diego Zoo; the SDG&E Energy Innovation Center; San Diego State University; University of California, San Diego; University of San Diego; Point Loma Nazarene University; San Diego Children’s Museum; and the Gloria E. McClellan Senior Center in Vista.

Kyocera established U.S. operations in 1969 and was the first Japan-based corporation to commence manufacturing operations in the State of California, in 1971.

¹ Highest conversion efficiency of any multicrystalline silicon photovoltaic cell in mass production. Based on research by Kyocera; as of October 2012.

About KYOCERA

Kyocera is one of the world's largest vertically integrated producers and suppliers of solar photovoltaic modules and systems, with a history of innovation in solar technology since 1975. Recognized as a global leader and industry pioneer in solar power solutions, Kyocera is in a unique position to integrate its decades of experience into product development and support for both residential and industrial clients across the globe. Kyocera serves thousands of customers in both developed and developing regions, with more than 3 gigawatts of solar collection equipment installed worldwide. The company has set repeated world records in multicrystalline silicon cell efficiency and most recently gained the distinction of producing the world’s first modules to pass the Long-Term Sequential Test for reliability performed by TUV Rheinland Japan Ltd.

Kyocera Solar Inc. is headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona with regional sales affiliates in the Americas and Australia.

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, printers, copiers, telecommunications equipment, electronic components, semiconductor packages, cutting tools and industrial components. During the year ended March 31, 2012, the company's net sales totaled 1.19 trillion yen (approx. USD14.5 billion). The company is ranked #426 on Forbes magazine's 2012 "Global 2000” listing of the world's largest publicly traded companies.