The Japanese electronics conglomerate Kyocera has announced plans to join the U.S. solar rush and build a 1 gigawatt solar module manufacturing plant in San Diego.
Kyocera’s announcement follows recent plans by Suntech Power Holdings and Yingli Green Energy to build plants in the U.S. sunbelt.
The Kyocera plant, to be built at the company’s facility on Balboa Avenue, is slated to for construction in the first half of this year with an initial production target of 30 megawatts per year, according to the company.
The plant would reach full capacity by March 2014.
Kyocera plans to double its production of solar cells between fiscal years 2009 and 2011 and has built manufacturing facilities in Japan, China, the Czech Republic and Mexico. The company’s solar cell have recently set new efficiency records.
Steve Hill, president of Kyocera Solar Inc., said the company is looking to capitalize on growth in the U.S. market.
Analysts have projected that demand for solar modules will reach 9,300 megawatts globallly in 2010 and then jump to 10,750 megawatts by 2011.