Kyocera Solar, ENVISION Solar Team Up to Produce 'Solar Grove' Carports

Energy Resource, March 1, 2007

ENERGY RESOURCE-1 March 2007-Kyocera Solar, ENVISION Solar Team Up to Produce 'Solar Grove' Carports(C)2007 JeraOne - http://www.jeraone.com

Kyocera Solar Inc. today announced a strategic alliance with ENVISION Solar, a San Diego-based new business venture formed to develop and commercialize carport structures with integrated photovoltaic arrays for U.S. and international customers.

ENVISION Solar was formed by principals from Tucker Sadler Architects and the contracting firm Midwest General Inc. following a successful collaboration with Kyocera on the original Solar Grove, an award-winning, 235-kilowatt solar carport installed at Kyocera's North American headquarters in San Diego.

The Solar Grove concept transforms a parking lot into a clean electrical generator that eases strain on the utility grid while keeping vehicles cool and shaded. According to Kyocera, its modular design accommodates sites of any size or shape, "giving virtually any parking lot an economical solar retrofit option that promotes energy independence while preserving the environment."

Kyocera Solar will be ENVISION Solar's exclusive supplier of photovoltaic products for use in the solar carport projects.

ENVISION Solar will, in turn, offer the industry's only complete "turn-key" solution for Solar Grove carports -- providing a "Single Point of Contract" that includes feasibility studies, design and engineering, contract management, entitlement/permit process guidance, construction, installation, financing options, system monitoring, and site maintenance.

"This enterprise is an example of the solar industry stepping into an exciting new phase by providing a visually pleasing, architectural improvement to the community coupled with environmentally sound energy production," said Tom Dyer, vice president of marketing and government affairs for Kyocera Solar.

The individual Solar Trees that comprise the Solar Grove concept combine the modular building and sustainable designs of Robert Noble, AIA, founder and CEO of Envision Solar, with Kyocera's photovoltaic modules and systems.

"Kyocera's vision included architectural excellence -- rather than building another carport, they wanted to plant Solar Trees to provide clean energy for generations to come," said Noble. "Together, we reached for something greater for society -- something beautiful, meaningful and of extraordinary practical value."

In its first full year of operation, the original Solar Grove exceeded performance projections by providing 427,602 kilowatt hours of electricity -- enough to power 69 typical San Diego homes -- and saving approximately $50,000 in energy costs.

For more information visit ENVISION at www.envisionsolar.com or Kyocera at www.kyocerasolar.com.

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