ECONOROOTS Roof-Mounted Solar Power Generating Systems for Residential Buildings
New Modules with Greater Power Output for the 2005 Standard Specifications
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(This document was translated from the Japanese press release.)
February 28, 2005
Kyocera Corporation (President: Yasuo Nishiguchi) is pleased to announce the release on March 1 of the 2005 model of ECONOROOTS, roof-mounted solar power generating systems for residential buildings in the Japanese market. The systems feature standard modules with greater power output and are being released one month ahead of the annual schedule.
Installation example of ECONOROOTS featuring high power output
Background
Today, the market for solar power generating systems for residential buildings is growing steadily. Last fiscal year, the New Energy Foundation reported 52,863 applications for the subsidies under the project for promoting solar power generating systems for residential buildings. This fiscal year, the figure grew to 61,407, an increase of nearly 10,000*. Kyocera expects this trend to continue steadily through fiscal 2005.
With growing interest due to the Kyoto Protocol brought into practice on February 16, the solar power generating systems for residential buildings are attracting attention as one of the measures for reducing greenhouse gases in households.
Kyocera strives to respond to the strong demand and to revitalize the market further by releasing attractive, value-added products based on improved technology ahead of time.
*As of February 1, 2005
Summary
Kyocera currently provides two product lines for roof-mounted solar power generating systems for residential buildings: the SAMURAI for hip/complex roofs and the ECONOROOTS for span/flat roofs. In this way, Kyocera continues to offer products that can be beautifully installed on any residential roof and provide greater power output.
The standard modules of the ECONOROOTS brand have increased the power output per module from 175 W to 180 W while maintaining the same standard exterior dimensions as the conventional products.
Features
1. New modules adopting Kyocera's high-efficiency cells
Last year, Kyocera achieved a world record in energy conversion efficiency of 17.7 percent with its mass-produced polycrystalline silicon solar cells. The technology has partially been introduced to the standard modules of the ECONOROOTS.
2. Reduction in the number of modules installed due to improvements in the power output
A 3-kW system consisting of 175-W modules requires a total of 18 modules, while the ECONOROOTS system consists of only 17 180-W modules. This increase in power reduces the number of solar modules installed, thereby reducing the labor for installation.
If the two units are compared in the same installation area, the new system improves the total power output by 2.8%.
Main specifications
Modules |
For span roofs |
For flat roofs |
| Model |
R180T-02 |
G180T-02 |
| Nominal maximum output |
180 W |
180 W |
| Dimensions |
W |
1,290 mm |
1,290 mm |
L |
1,012 mm |
990 mm |
H |
36 mm |
36 mm |
| Module efficiency |
13.79% |
14.09% |
| Recommended retail price (including tax) |
105,840 yen |
105,840 yen |
*For the Japanese market only
Transition of performance improvements in Kyocera polycrystalline silicon solar modules
While the energy conversion efficiency was approximately 10% at the beginning of the mass production of polycrystalline silicon solar modules, Kyocera has increased the figure to 14% over the past twenty years. This is equivalent to an annual rate of 0.2 points. Kyocera gained additional improvements in its technological abilities, and has dramatically improved efficiency by more than one point over the past year.
The new ECONOROOTS standard module improves the energy conversion efficiency by 1.01% and the power output by 13 W (approximately 7.8%) compared to products of the same size released one year ago.
These performance improvements were achieved by Kyocera's own fully integrated production systems, which feature innovation in the element technologies and continuing improvements to technologies. These include higher quality silicon wafers and the introduction of fine-line thick-film electrodes. The systems serve as an important base for Kyocera's solar energy business, making the solar power generating systems for residential buildings more attractive to customers.
| Module performance |
New model |
Conventional model |
Previously (one year ago) |
| Power output |
180 W |
175 W |
167 W |
| Module energy conversion efficiency |
14.09% |
13.70% |
13.08% |
*Compared to the 175-W module: 5-W increase in power output and 0.39-point increase in module energy conversion efficiency
*Compared to the 167-W module: 13-W increase in power output and 1.01-point increase in module energy conversion efficiency
Kyocera will enhance its production systems while achieving further technological innovation and quality improvement to introduce mass-produced products with a module energy conversion efficiency of 15.7% using cells of the highest efficiency announced last year.
ECONOROOTS standard modules with higher power output
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| Inquiries |
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From Customers |
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KYOCERA Corporation
Solar Energy Division,
Business Department
6 Takeda Tobadono-cho, Fushimi-ku,
Kyoto 612-8501, Japan
Tel: +81-(0)75- 604-3476 (Direct)
Fax : +81-(0)75-604-3475 (Direct) |
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From the Press |
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KYOCERA Corporation
Corporate Communications
Head Office
Tel: 075-604-3416 (Direct)
Tokyo
Tel: 03-3274-1577(Direct) |
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