Dec 28 2010
Kyocera declared that its Tijuana manufacturing facility in Mexico has produced its one-millionth solar module.
To commemorate the event around 400 employees came together for a celebration and signed the back of the module. This millionth module bears evidence or confirms Kyocera’s early connection with solar manufacturing. After almost 30 years of manufacturing solar modules in Japan it began module production in December 2004 in the Tijuana facility. To meet the growing demands Kyocera then expanded the facility to include a second plant in 2009 in San Diego, enhancing the capacity to 240 MW per year. The first production of solar modules in the US by Kyocera began in 2010 with a target of 30 MW per year.
Currently, Kyocera’s high-speed business is solar energy and the company has an annual target of producing 1000 MW by the 31 March 2013. Kyocera also has manufacturing units in the Czech Republic, China and Japan. The 1 GW capacities would permit the company to provide 3.5 kW solar electric systems for 285,000 households every year. Globally around 20 Kyocera units include their own on the location solar electric generating systems along with the 100 kW rooftop unit in Tijuana and the 214 kW Solar Grove parking lot in San Diego.
According to Steve Hill, Kyocera Solar’s President, the one-millionth module will be showcased to prove how far the company had traveled in a matter of six years. It also shows the company’s history of 35 years and its commitment towards innovation and quality in the solar segment and its efforts to make sustainable energy a world wide endeavor. Kyocera is the first Japan-based company with manufacturing facilities in California and the company presently employs almost 4000 people in the US.