• The 2 PV systems were awarded to the schools by SANYO for their work in the Future Planets project.
• The Future Planets project is an eco challenge for students to create a piece of work exploring the state of the planet in 25 years time.
• The Future Planets project is part of the ‘Recharging the Earth’ programme which, in its second year, is an environmental education programme organised by County Durham’s Outdoor and Sustainability Education Service (OASES).
• The project is supported by SANYO and Project C, NETPark’s (the North East Technology Park) community outreach programme.

Quotations

Ms. Catherine Johns, Director of innovation development at County Durham Development Company, the Company that runs NETPark, commented,

“The Recharging the Earth programme was designed to really engage with young people and get them excited about science and technology. Getting young people interested in science from an early age is so important and Recharging the Earth will, I am sure, go some way towards showing young people and get them excited about science and technology.”

Mr. Shigeki Komatsu, Director of the Solar Division of SANYO Component Europe, commented,

“We are very pleased to have had the opportunity to take part in such a fantastic project. We were very impressed by the efforts and attitude of all the pupils who participated in the event, and their pieces showed a very real understanding and awareness of environmental issues, and the PV systems are a symbol of their commitment to these issues.

“We hope that the installations can become a real-life laboratory where the students can see for themselves the benefits of renewable energy and learn about the importance of making the right sustainable choices for the future.”

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• Unification of solar brand is part of a wider scheme of consolidation of brands being carried out by the Panasonic Group.
• Unification will take advantage of the strengths of each company within the Panasonic group.
• Combining SANYO’s solar technical capabilities with Panasonic’s wide global network will allow further synergy to be generated within the group and strengthen the solar business globally.
• The change in name will not affect the distribution or quality of SANYO products.
• Panasonic’s 100 year anniversary vision is to become the “No. 1 Green Innovation Company in the Electronics Industry” by 2018.

Quotations

Shigeki Komatsu, Director of the Solar Division at SANYO Component Europe GmbH commented:

“The brand change is part of the global strategy aimed at expanding the solar business of the Panasonic Group.”

“The current manufacturing operations and sales structure will continue under the Panasonic Group. The Group will continue to invest in the solar business, allowing us to offer a higher level of service to our business partners and provide our customers with higher quality, more efficient modules,”

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Munich, 2011: SANYO has ranked as one of the strongest brands in the PV branch for a number of years. Among the most frequently installed crystalline module brands, SANYO is particularly popular among installers thanks to its new and innovative product range. SANYO received higher than average evaluations in the category “quality”, securing them the highest further recommendation rates of all brands. In recognition of this fact, EuPD Research is now awarding them the seal “TOP BRAND PV”.

The “TOP BRAND PV“ seal has been developed by EuPD Research as a way of objectively evaluating the brand management strategies of module and inverter manufacturers. Statements made by market intermediaries and end customers serve as the foundation of the evaluation. Manufacturers thus receive an unfiltered assessment of their own brand as well as feedback on where potential lies to optimize their brand management. The company stands out, from an installer perspective, particularly with respect to the further recommendation of the brand and the positive evaluation of the brand. Thus, SANYO, a strong PV module brand is now receiving the premium seal.

• The results of this multi-step analysis are made visible in the seal “TOP BRAND PV” which is awarded to leading industry brands only
• According to the latest assessments, only ten module manufactures and 5 inverter manufacturers rank among the global “TOP BRAND PV“.
• So far, 10 out of 250 module brands can be proven to differentiate themselves sufficiently from the competition
• With the TOP BRAND PV seal, the leading market research and consulting company EuPD Research is extending their certification expertise into the PV sector
• Alongside their “Corporate Health Award”, a leading award in the area of sustainable management, EuPD Research now hopes to present manufacturers in the PV branch with new benefits

Quotations

Shigeki Komatsu, Head of the Solar Division at SANYO Component Europe GmbH commented:

“This accolade confirms our brand strategy and the quality of our products. The seal is a first-rate reference for our customer base”

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• On display at SANYO’s booth this year will be 2 models from the company’s highly acclaimed HIT® solar module series: the HIT® N240
• SANYO’s HIT® solar modules are based on thin mono-crystalline silicon wafers surrounded by ultra-thin amorphous layers. This structure delivers high conversion efficiency, outstanding temperature characteristics and a higher output on a given area compared to conventional crystalline modules
• This has made them traditionally very competitive in the residential market where the roof space for an installation is limited
• This year has also seen SANYO’s HIT® solar modules being utilised in large PV systems in Europe, Italy and on the iconic 1.103MW PV system currently being installed on the roof of London’s Blackfriars Station
• The utilization of SANYO’s HIT^® solar modules in these installations has not only proved their suitability for large scale systems and shown both their versatility and the long-term investments they can bring
• SANYO will also be displaying information regarding its recently established SANYO Solar Premium Installer Programme, the UK’s first dedicated support network for PV installers
• The programme, launched in September in the UK, follows successful pilot schemes held in Germany and Italy which received high appraisal from both installers and customers, reflecting the need for such a support network.
• Through the Premium Installer Programme, SANYO will offer support to UK-based PV installers by providing them with news and information from SANYO on the latest products and technologies, sales leads from their region, technical support and training and their own customisable micro site to help promote their business

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• A new roof added to the Victorian bridge will incorporate over 6,000m2 of PV panels, the biggest solar array in London.
• The panels will generate an estimated 900,000kWh of electricity every year, providing 50% of the station’s energy and reducing CO2 emissions by an estimated 511 tonnes per year.
• Once the upgrade to the station is complete, up to 24 trains per hour will be able to run on the central London section of the route.
• The company behind the solar engineering and installation is London-based Solarcentury.
• The high-efficiency solar modules used are manufactured by SANYO Electric Co., Ltd., a member of the Panasonic Group.

Quotations:

Mr. Lindsay Vamplew, Network Rail’s project director for Blackfriars said:

“We’re creating a spacious, modern station and delivering a vastly improved train service for passengers, while at the same time installing London’s largest solar array to make Blackfriars more environmentally-friendly and sustainable.”

He continued:

“The Victorian rail bridge at Blackfriars is part of our railway history. Constructed in the age of steam, we’re bringing it bang up to date with twenty first century solar technology to create an iconic station for the city.”

Mr. Derry Newman, chief executive, Solarcentury, said:

“It’s fantastic to see this project finally come to fruition. Blackfriars Bridge is an ideal location for solar; a new, iconic large roof space, right in the heart of London.”

He continued:

“Station buildings and bridges are fixed parts of our urban landscape and it is great to see that this one will be generating renewable energy every day into the future. Unknown to most, there are many hundreds of buildings now powered by solar in the capital as investment in this technology increases. For people to see that solar power is working is a vital step towards a clean energy future.”

Mr. Shigeki Komatsu, Solar Division Director of SANYO Component Europe GmbH, a subsidiary of SANYO Electric Co., Ltd., commented:

“SANYO is very proud to have its HIT^® solar modules used in the redevelopment of Blackfriars Station. The high efficiency of our solar modules makes them ideal for structures where maximum power generation is required from an area where load must be considered. With our solar modules on this well known London landmark, SANYO hopes to raise awareness and understanding of solar and other renewable energy technologies, demonstrating how they can both help the city environment and minimise the onset of climate change.”

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• Testing at level 6, the highest level of stress test for the modules, consists of 8 test cycles and lasts 56 days
• The modules are exposed to a 5% sodium chloride solution
• A test cycle lasts 7 days and consists of four salt spray phases of two hours at 35°C with 93% humidity
• Each of these phases is followed by storage in a moist environment for 20 to 22 hours at 40°C, also at a relative humidity of 93%
• After completion of the four spray phases and storage, the modules are then stored in a normal climate for three days
• The accelerated laboratory corrosion test simulates the effects of salt-laden atmospheres during the life-time of a PV module
• PV modules can be damaged easily by salty rain or salt-laden humidity, especially in coastal areas, but also in inland locations
• The positive test result confirms the superior quality of the SANYO HIT^® modules and highlights their suitability, even in environments with challenging weather conditions

Quotations:

Shigeki Komatsu, Director of the Solar Division of SANYO Component Europe commented:

“SANYO not only strives for the top position on conversion efficiency, but also attaches great importance to the quality and reliability of its HIT modules. Only if the modules match the consumers´ expectations regarding their lifetime, the anticipated financial benefit can be assured.
After having passed the Ammonia Test in June, this certificate again demonstrates our commitment to highest quality standards.”

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• To qualify for accreditation, installers need to have installed 10 PV systems with SANYO solar modules.
• The programme intends to change the lack of direct marketing support for installers in the UK.
• The direct connection ensures installers are aware of new technologies and are able to develop the best solutions for clients.
• In order to successfully receive accreditation, installers must present the Microgeneration Certification Scheme certificates proving they have installed 10 systems.
• Approved SANYO Solar Premium Installers are provided with sales leads directly through the SANYO solar website.
• The new site can be found at sanyosolarinstaller.com .

Quotations:

Ms. Marlene Muehlbauer, Marketing spokesperson at SANYO Component Europe commented:

“The market for PV systems in the UK is growing dramatically, and the industry is evolving at a rapid pace. As most installers have diversified from being electricians, they face the significant challenge of keeping up with new technology and methods as well as the routes to order – the SANYO Solar Premium Installer Programme helps across all of those issues.”

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The solar power plant project was originally started by a consortium led by Deutsche Bank’s Asset Finance and Leasing Renewable Energy Division. In December, 2010, construction of the plant was completed and the system was connected to the grid in April, 2011. SANYO’s role in the project was to provide its highly acclaimed HIT® solar modules to the system.

• The plant is equipped with 32,202 of SANYO’s HIT-235HDE4 solar modules fitted to solar trackers to maximize the power generation of the modules
• With a total system size of 7.56MW, it is one of the largest tracking solar power plants in Europe, and the largest system to use HIT® solar modules in the world
• This project has highlighted the suitability of HIT® solar modules for large scale systems and has shown their profitability and the long-term investments they can bring
• As part of the celebrations, an opening ceremony was held to celebrate the official commencement of operations at the facility

Quotations:

Mitsuru Homma, Executive Vice-President of SANYO, commented:

“I would like to express our sincere congratulations on the completion of the project and thank Deutsche Bank for utilizing SANYO’s HIT solar modules in the plant. Recently, we are seeing a rapid shift towards renewable energy sources, including solar power, globally. We at SANYO, as a member of the Panasonic Group, are aiming to become the world’s leading company in the field of energy and environmental technology, and it is our sincere wish that we can deepen our collaboration with our partners to provide safe and clean energy throughout Europe.”

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Especially in farms with livestock, it is crucial that the glass, frames and connections of the installed solar modules are ammonia-resistant and do not corrode, especially if the modules are in the vicinity of livestock ventilation systems. Barn air contains a high level of ammonia, which in combination with oxygen forms salts. The tested modules of the N-series have shown that even high levels of ammonia do neither affect their efficiency nor make them age prematurely.

• The tests have been performed on HIT-N230SE10 modules and are conducted according to the standard IEC 62716 draft C “Ammonia corrosion testing of photovoltaic modules”, which considers existing standards for electrical systems, coating corrosion protection and sulphur dioxide contamination of metal surfaces
• The 20-day test cycle exposes the modules to an extreme environment
• Compared to other ammonia tests that use ammonia gas, the TÜV Rheinland test uses highly concentrated liquid ammonia, which is even more aggressive
• The measurements included power measurement, insulation testing and visual inspections and the maximum permissible power degradation of 5% was not exceeded
• For farmers, the economic returns of solar installations often play a key role and so it is crucial that the modules generate a constant yield
• SANYO solar modules met all the test requirements of the TÜV Rheinland ammonia resistance test
• This test result once again underlines the longevity of SANYO solar modules and shows that these high-performance modules are well suited for use on farm roofs as well.

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For many years the HIT® solar modules made by SANYO have been well known not only for their very high conversion efficiency but also for their excellent product quality. By applying the highest standards to the selection of materials as well as to the complete cell- and module production process, extremely low failure rates could be achieved. As of the end of March 2011 more than 2 million solar modules have been produced in the SANYO factory in Hungary for the European market and out of these, less than 50 modules have been returned by customers on guarantee claims. This excellent product quality has made SANYO confident to extend its product guarantee to 10 years for all of its HIT® solar modules.

• This 10-year guarantee is applicable to solar modules of the standard series NxxxSE10/SE11 from May 1, 2011 modules of the HD-series HxxxE01/02; for the HIT-Double modules DNKHE1 and DNKHE1-2 and for the modules of the HDE4 / HDE4-2 and NKHE5 / NKHE5-2 series
• New standards have been set by SANYO in conversion efficiency with it’s N-series, with a cell conversion efficiency of 21.6% and module conversion efficiency of 19.0%
• Belief that high product quality and a long product life-time are essential product features vital for the economic success of any PV system
• The increased guarantee period of 10 years underlines a big commitment
• SANYO is convinced that such long guarantee periods will become industry-standard and may even become mandatory in some countries

For the full press release, please click here.