California Center for Sustainable Energy

Kyocera Solar plans San Diego-based manufacturing

News cameras were rolling as Kyocera Solar, Inc. announced plans to begin manufacturing solar modules in San Diego during a press conference held March 3 at CCSE. Production will be at Kyocera’s Balboa Avenue facility, which is directly across the street from CCSE and was unavailable for the media event because of defense contract agreements.

Kyocera Solar’s President Steve Hill said production will get under way in San Diego by mid 2010 with the initial goal of 30 megawatts per year. The company estimates it will employ 65 to 75 people on the assembly line. Currently Kyocera manufactures about 400 megawatts worldwide, with a plan to double that output to 1,000 megawatts, or 1 gigawatt, by 2013. Their modules range from rooftop arrays on homes and businesses to much larger systems for desert solar farms operated by utility companies.

“Today’s announcement is further proof that California’s nation-leading green policies play a vital role in our state’s economic success,” said Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in a written statement. “Even in this recession, green jobs in California have grown, and Kyocera’s decision to locate its solar manufacturing operation in San Diego will create even more jobs at a time when they are needed most.”

Among attendees at the press conference were San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders, County Supervisor Ron Roberts, California Labor Secretary Victoria Bradshaw, CCSE Executive Director Irene Stillings, SDG&E Senior Vice President Jim Avery and Kyocera International President Rodney Lanthorne. You can view the press conference online at the mayor’s website by clicking on the entry at In the News.

Stillings applauded Kyocera’s decision, saying the cumulative effects of the local purchasing of materials to support manufacturing and the new jobs will be a real boost to San Diego’s economy. She also said that the company will be reducing transportation costs and carbon dioxide emissions related to shipping solar modules from out of state or other countries. Kyocera already has plants in Japan, China, the Czech Republic and Tijuana, Mexico.

Kyocera established operations in California in 1971 and currently employs about 1,100 in San Diego and about 800 in Tijuana.

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