SANYO and InSpec Group Partnership Generates Multiple Solar Installations in Oregon

SAN JOSE, Calif. and PORTLAND, Ore., May 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The SANYO North America Corporation (SANYO) and InSpec Group (InSpec) partnership is advancing the adoption of clean energy solutions as a 99-kilowatt photovoltaic system project for the Salem Conference Center is completed and a new 200-kilowatt project begins at Chemeketa Community College in Salem, Oregon. The solar panel systems for both sites are using SANYO HIT Power® 220A solar panels, which are made using locally produced ingots and wafers from SANYO's Plant in Salem, SANYO Solar of Oregon, LLC. InSpec, with its expertise in project management, has also included other locally sourced and manufactured products in the system integration.

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110504/LA95074)

The SANYO HIT Power® 220A solar panel used in the installations has a cell efficiency of 19.8% and module efficiency of 17.4%, among the best the industry has to offer, which allows for maximum power distribution per square foot.

"SANYO HIT panels are perfect for these types of powerful rooftop system installations, where space is limited," said Charles Hanasaki, president of the Solar and Smart Energy Division. "Our partnership with InSpec is bearing fruit, and we know it is because they share our vision of helping customers to achieve a reduction in energy consumption from non-renewable sources and improving efficiency of energy used."

Yasuyoshi Kawanishi, president of SANYO Solar of Oregon, LLC, added, "We are very proud that the ingots and wafers we manufacture here in Oregon are able to find a way into local installations benefiting the community with renewable energy."

The Salem Conference Center, which was designed and constructed to conform with Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), was built using local recycled materials with large, expansive windows to allow the use of as much natural light as possible. In the Center's continuing efforts to be sustainable, the next step was adding a solar power generation system, a 99-kilowatt system that is expected to generate about 11% of the building's total energy usage on an annual basis.

"InSpec engineers designed the most efficient solar panel system available to meet our environmental goals and save us money by lowering our energy costs. To navigate the various benefits, funding options, and overall system integration, InSpec was there every step of the way to make sure we understood what needed to happen before, during and after the installation," said Chrissie Bertsch, General Manager of the Salem Conference Center. Ms. Bertsch added, "It is also exciting and satisfying to know that we were able to source our products from local manufacturers and suppliers, like SANYO, as much as possible, keeping the money we spend in our local economy."

For Chemeketa Community College, the project has just begun. The school will install four separate solar systems totaling more than 200 kilowatts of electrical capacity. The systems will be mounted on the rooftops of buildings on their main campus in Salem, as well as at satellite campuses around Salem. These solar projects help the College meet state-mandated requirements for solar installations on new buildings, in addition to lowering the College's energy needs. In total, these systems should generate over 225,000 kilowatt-hours per year for the College.

"We chose InSpec to help us with the design of our solar panel system because of their reputation in key engineering and construction management of other commercial projects in Salem," said Cheryl Roberts, President of Chemeketa Community College. "Our goal is to generate as much energy as possible from our installation, and InSpec recommended SANYO panels to us, which was satisfying because of their high efficiency specifications and the fact that we are using products manufactured in our local community."

In order to make these projects possible, InSpec has creatively engineered the systems to maximize the benefit to the end user and help them reach their environmental goals. One of the roadblocks to companies thinking about installing solar power generation systems is the lack of information or understanding of the process to fund such projects, in addition to the selection of parts and supplies needed to complete the system. To simplify the process, InSpec is able to provide expertise in sourcing all the components of the systems as well as clearly explain and work closely with each customer to secure funding with the federal, state, and utility incentive programs wherever available.

"To help our customers meet their goals, we believe in working closely to make sure they know what to do every step of the way, which offers them peace of mind, recognizing that we know the parts of the system and the way to fund it," said Cory Murman, Project Lead for InSpec Energy Solutions. Murman added, "For these projects, we recommended SANYO panels because they produce the most power per-square-foot thereby helping the customer reach their goals."

About InSpec Group

InSpec Group is an innovative multi-disciplinary engineering and construction group providing facility and energy solutions to customers across the nation from offices on the US west coast, southeastern US and the American heartland as well as Tokyo, JAPAN.  In addition to its PV solar integration business, InSpec Group has project expertise throughout the entire supply chain of Energy Solutions industries, including advanced materials such as polysilicon, single-crystalline silicon wafers, chemicals and aviation-grade composites.  For more information on InSpec Group, please visit http://inspecgroup.com .

About HIT POWER®

HIT® stands for Heterojunction with Intrinsic Thin-layer. HIT® solar cells employ a proprietary technology developed by SANYO whereby hybrid solar cells composed of single crystalline silicon wafers are surrounded by ultra-thin amorphous silicon layers. The unique structure minimizes defects within the p/n junction of the cell, producing highly efficient cells capable of achieving up to 17.8% module efficiency while producing more power even at higher temperatures.

About SANYO

SANYO Electric Co., Ltd. is a global leading company providing solutions for energy, environment and lifestyle applications. The Energy System Solutions Division of SANYO North America Corporation, a subsidiary of SANYO Electric Co., Ltd., is headquartered in San Jose, California, and handles sales and services for photovoltaic and Smart Energy Systems. For further information, please visit SANYO's web site at http://us.SANYO.com.

© 2011 SANYO Electric Co., Ltd. All rights reserved. SANYO and HIT are registered trademarks of SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.

SOURCE SANYO North America