KYOCERA to construct new solar cell manufacturing plant in Japan

Kyocera Corporation is to construct a new large-scale solar cell manufacturing facility, which will be located in Yasu City, Shiga Prefecture, and will be the largest of the Kyocera Group’s Japan-based solar cell manufacturing plants. The new plant will manufacture the Back Contact Cell, developed in 2006, which achieves an 18.5% energy conversion efficiency rate. Construction is scheduled to start in 2009 with completion within the year so that production can begin in the spring of 2010.

Together with the Yokaichi Plant, the new plant will be the central base for Kyocera solar cell manufacturing. The company plans to double its annual production from its current yearly volume of 300MW. They hope that by March 2012, the two plants will have a combined annual manufacturing output of solar cells capable of producing 650MW.

“Kyocera’s strength lies in the technology developed over more than 30 years in the market to
produce high-quality, long-lasting, reliable products with high level solar conversion efficiency rates. Utilizing these strengths Kyocera aims to further expand its solar business,” stated Tatsumi Maeda, Senior Managing Executive Officer of Kyocera Corporation and General Manager of Corporate Solar Energy Group.

Kyocera has established local production and supply systems for solar modules in Japan, Europe, U.S. and China; considered to be the four largest markets in the world. Along with the segmented increase of solar cell production, the manufacturing capability of the four assembly plants in the Czech Republic, Mexico, China and Japan will be improved.