Kyocera Solar, Inc. (NYSE:KYO) has officially inaugurated its new solar product assembly operations at the existing Kyocera Mexicana, S.A. de C.V. maquiladora plant in the Tijuana Industrial Park.
The Kyocera facility manufactures solar photovoltaic modules. According to industry research firm Solarbuzz, Kyocera was the world's No. 2 producer of PV modules in 2003. The new Tijuana assembly line is part of a global expansion Kyocera announced in September 2004 that will double its PV module manufacturing capacity, to 240 megawatts per year, during 2005.
"Solar energy products now comprise the fastest-growing segment of Kyocera's global business," said Rodney N. Lanthorne, president of Kyocera International, Inc. and director of Kyocera Corp., the group's global parent.
Production of PV modules commenced at the Tijuana plant in November, targeting California's fast-growing market for commercial and residential solar PV systems. During 2005, the facility is expected to reach an annual production capacity of 36 megawatts of PV modules — enough to provide a 3.5-kilowatt PV system for more than 10,000 homes each year.
Since 1975, Kyocera has shipped approximately 350 megawatts of solar energy systems worldwide. Generating this amount of electricity annually from solar PV modules instead of oil could reduce annual oil consumption by approximately 23 million gallons, or 65,000 tons of carbon greenhouse gases or 99 square miles of trees. By August 2005, Kyocera plans to be producing PV modules at a rate sufficient to generate this level of environmental benefits every 18 months.
Kyocera Solar's headquarters are in Scottsdale, Ariz., with sales affiliates in the Americas and Australia. Kyocera Mexicana, S.A. de C.V. is a dedicated maquiladora supporting Kyocera's North American manufacturing operations. Both companies are wholly-owned subsidiaries of Kyocera International Inc. of San Diego, the North American headquarters and holding company for Kyoto, Japan-based Kyocera Corporation.