Press Release

SANYO to Install Megawatt-level HIT Photovoltaic Modules at Public Facilities in Awaji City

SANYO Electric Co., Ltd. (SANYO) is pleased to announce that it will install megawatt-level HIT photovoltaic modules at the city hall, community center and other sites in Awaji City, Hyogo, Japan.

Working together, the City of Awaji and Hyogo Prefecture expect that the new solar power facilities will help attract environmentally conscious companies to the area, while promoting green energy and serving as a symbol of Awaji as an environmental island. The facilities will also be utilized to promote environmental learning and the entire project is scheduled for completion in the fall of 2010. The scale of new solar power facilities will be 1 megawatt, one of the largest of its kind for a public system in Japan, and is expected to reduce CO2 emissions by 330 tons per year.

Awaji Island is blessed with tranquil seas, beautiful countryside, and a lot of sunshine, with the highest annual sunshine hours in the Kinki region. With the aim of becoming an environmental city where history and technology thrive together, Awaji City has launched a Megawatt-level Solar Generation Project for the creation of solar power facilities to serve as a symbol of the city. A joint proposal submitted by NTT Facilities, Inc. and SANYO was well received and the two companies were selected to build the solar power facilities. The blanket order for the megawatt-level solar generation project includes design of the core system, delivery of equipment including solar cell modules, and construction of the entire system.

SANYO HIT photovoltaic modules, developed using the company own technology and expertise, provide a high energy conversion ratio and superior temperature characteristics, thereby offering the world highest-class electrical output. By utilizing the high performance and efficiency of HIT photovoltaic modules, SANYO is developing a wide range of solar power solutions, not just for public and industrial applications, but for homes as well.

The people of Awaji Island live in harmony with nature. For the last 50 years however, they have become keenly aware of a gradual loss of the natural beauty of the island beaches and mountains. Therefore, we would like the people of our island and city to develop a deeper understanding of renewable energy by seeing and experiencing the substantial amount of electricity that will be generated by the new solar power facilities. As Awaji is aiming to become not only an environmental island but also a world-class tourist destination, we hope that the new facilities will be used as an environmental learning center by both locals and visitors. Since Awaji is known as the original island of Japan in our national creation myth, and it enjoys a high level of annual sunshine, becoming a symbol of renewable energy for the country has a great significance for the people of Awaji.