Kyocera Solar, Inc., a leading supplier of reliable solar modules and renewable energy, announced today that it has begun shipments of 34 megawatts (MW) of its U.S.-made solar modules for a 127MW, utility-scale photovoltaic (PV) installation in southwestern Arizona. Production of the modules for this large-scale project will continue through March 2013.
Manufactured in Kyocera's San Diego production facility, the 245-watt and 315-watt modules will become part of the Arlington Valley Solar Energy II project ("AV Solar"), scheduled to begin operations in late 2013 on approximately 1,160 acres near Arizona's Hassayampa Substation in Maricopa County. Once complete, the project's 127MW-generating capacity will place it among the largest solar photovoltaic installations in North America.
"Kyocera is delighted to be chosen as a solar energy partner for this innovative installation, which will provide clean, renewable energy from the sun to Southern California," said Steve Hill, president of Kyocera Solar, Inc. "Projects like AV Solar demonstrate the cost-effectiveness and low risk of investing in Kyocera's multicrystal silicon solar technology, which has been proven over four decades in thousands of working applications worldwide."
The AV Solar project is being developed by LS Power Group and will be the company's largest solar facility to date. Renewable energy produced by the project will be sold to San Diego Gas & Electric.
"The long-standing experience and documented reliability of Kyocera's high-efficiency modules and its ability to provide a stable supply in mass-production volumes made the company a clear choice for this project," said John King, Executive Vice President, LS Power.
"We've seen the solar industry expand exponentially in the last decade, which has also brought in many unproven companies," Hill continued. "We're confident Kyocera will continue to lead the market with our long-standing, reliable modules."