Kyocera Solar and the town of Parker, AZ, recently commissioned a 175-kilowatt (kW) solar energy project. The effort was developed and financed through Kyocera's in-house Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) program, which enables towns, school districts and other entities to enjoy the benefits of solar energy with no up-front costs.

This innovative method of financing solar installations will transform the abundant Arizona sunshine into renewable energy to benefit Parker. The carport installations, which cover portions of the parking areas for Parker's town hall, library and senior center, will shade approximately 50 cars from solar heat while simultaneously harnessing the sun's energy.

The 700 Kyocera high-efficiency solar panels and 12 SMA inverters will generate an estimated 300 megawatt hours of electricity annually to offset approximately 80% of the electricity consumed by the three buildings.

"Municipalities have a responsibility to their citizens to undertake projects that provide long-term benefits at a reasonable cost," said Timothy Edwards, Public Works Director for the town of Parker.

"We are excited to work with a reliable company like Kyocera, which provided the method for reducing our energy costs with their proven solar modules and financing model. By stabilizing our town's electricity bills for decades to come, we're providing a brighter future to Parker's residents."

This project, installed by Photovoltaic Systems Manufacturing of Mesa, AZ, benefits from a production-based incentive under the Arizona Public Service's "Solar for Schools and Government" program. It represents the latest U.S. solar project developed using Kyocera's in-house financing programs - which also include a 1.6 megawatt (MW) installation for the Madison School District in Phoenix.

As part of a $14 billion global enterprise that has remained continuously profitable throughout its 56-year history, Kyocera Solar Inc. is leveraging its financial strength to develop and finance projects at attractive rates. This new business model enables Kyocera to offer its full turn-key solar energy systems with industry-leading reliability at very competitive rates.

"Kyocera is committed to helping municipalities and other entities adopt environmentally responsible methods that help their bottom line with our decades of expertise in providing reliable, efficient solar energy solutions," said Brian Cowan, Director of PV Project Solutions for Scottsdale, AZ-based Kyocera Solar Inc.

"Many people focus on driving down the cost per-watt in a solar installation, but the cost of financing also has a significant impact on the customer's cost per-kilowatt-hour. By combining Kyocera's premium product, systems engineering expertise and attractive financing, we offer an unbeatable combination."