SANYO Announces its Global Production Strategy for HIT*1 Solar Cells

Completing Osaka Nishikinohama Factory to increase production of solar cells

Tokyo, November 17, 2009 – SANYO Electric Co., Ltd. (SANYO) is pleased to announce the completion of the third factory building (Bldg. C) of Nishikinohama Factory (Kaizuka City, Osaka), already a mother factory for SANYO’s photovoltaic system business.

Bldg. C is expected to start high-volume production of HIT solar cells in December 2010 after installation of production equipment and completion of the necessary adjustments and tests for high-volume production.

Solar cell production capacity of Nishikinohama Factory will increase by approx. 1.6 times

Bldg. C of Nishikinohama Factory is going to have solar cell production equipment capable of an annual production capacity of 135MW. This will enable the Nishikinohama Factory’s overall production capacity (annual) to reach 345MW, which is more than 1.6 times the present level.

In addition, Shimane SANYO Electric Co., Ltd. (Unnan City, Shimane Prefecture), which already produces SANYO’s HIT solar cells, is planning to increase its annual production capacity to 220MW (from the current 130MW) in April 2010.

Between these two factories, SANYO will have a combined production capacity of 565MW at the end of March 2011 to keep pace with the ever-expanding world photovoltaic system market.

Strengthening the solar cell module business based on Japan-Europe-U.S. trilateral framework

To provide a steady supply of solar cell modules to major markets around the world, SANYO will expand production volume based on the Japan-Europe-U.S. trilateral framework.

In Japan, SANYO operates the Shiga Factory (Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture) as its major solar cell module production base where a new factory building is scheduled to begin operation before the end of March 2011. This will increase the Shiga Factory’s production capacity from the current 100MW to 200MW.

In North America, the Monterrey Factory in Mexico has recently completed a system to increase its production capacity from the current 20MW to 50MW, with a plan to increase it to 75MW by the end of March 2010.

In Europe, the Hungary Factory (Dorog City, Hungary) currently has a production capacity of 165MW and will nearly double it to 315MW by the end of March 2011.

Promoting in-house production of silicon ingots and wafers for solar cells

To keep up with the increase in production of solar cells, SANYO Solar of Oregon L.L.C. was established to operate a plant to secure a stable supply of silicon materials. SANYO is establishing a system so that between this plant and another ingot and wafer plant operated by SANYO Solar (USA) L.L.C., the combined production volume will be 100MW.

Through the above-mentioned activities, SANYO will establish a photovoltaic system/module production system with a HIT solar cell production capacity of 600MW by the end of March 2011, and is determined to steadily carry out its responsibility to provide sufficient supplies in response to the active global solar cell market.

Outline of Solar Division Nishikinohama Factory Bldg. C

Factory address: 15-2 Nishikiminami-cho, Kaizuka City, Osaka Prefecture

Building area: 18,000m2 (3-stories)

Operation start: December 2010

Production item: HIT solar cell

Production capacity: 135MW (annual)

<Change in Solar Cell Production Capacity>

<Change in Annual Solar Cell Module Production Capacity>

*1 The Heterojunction with Intrinsic Thin-layer (HIT) solar cell is an original technology developed by SANYO, and is a hybrid model that combines a crystalline silicon substrate and an amorphous silicon thin film. It offers the world’s highest power generation level per installation area, based on superior high energy conversion efficiency and temperature characteristics.

Media Enquiries:

Kamil Shah
Corporate Communications (Europe)
SANYO Europe Ltd.

SANYO House
18 Colonial Way
Watford, Herts
WD24 4PT, UK

t: +44 1923 477 294
m: +44 7917 553 586
e: kamil.shah@sanyo.com