KYOCERA Solar Modules Exceed Performance Expectations at San Diego's Alvarado Water Treatment Plant

Kyocera Solar, Inc. today announced that its 1.135-megawatt (MW) solar
array at the Alvarado Water Treatment Facility in San Diego, Calif., has
exceeded performance expectations consistently since it began operating
in February 2007, as documented by power generation data.

"The 6,128 Kyocera solar modules at the Alvarado Water Treatment
Facility have performed at 115 percent of expected output since their
installation," said John Helminski, Emerging and Renewable Technology
Program Manager for the City of San Diego. "Initially, we anticipated
1.6 million kilowatt hours (kWh) annually -- but it's been producing just
over 1.85 million."

The Alvarado facility will increase its water treatment capacity by 67
percent next year, from 120 million gallons per day to 200 million. To
alleviate the cost of the expansion, the City of San Diego became one of
the first in the nation to adopt a Power Purchase Agreement. Also
known as a "PPA," this contract between an electricity producer and a
host site owner helps curb energy costs in a sustainable manner.

The PPA allows the Alvarado Water Treatment Plant to host -- without
owning -- the Kyocera solar modules. The facility's PPA partner owns,
operates and maintains the entire system. For a period of 20 years, the
City of San Diego has agreed to purchase every kilowatt hour that the
system produces, at a fixed price, with an annual cost escalation of
just one percent. That's much lower than the expected annual increase in
utility rates.

"Under our PPA, solar electricity is already costing us less per
kilowatt hour than utility power," Helminski explained. "Additionally,
utility rates typically rise by at least 2.5 percent each year, which
promises further savings." Taking a conservative approach and
compounding the difference between 2.5 percent and 1 percent annual rate
increases, the City estimates savings of about $325,000 during the
course of its 20-year PPA. If rates rise an average of 4 percent per
year, the savings will be about $650,000.

The system's environmental benefits are equally impressive. The solar
installation occupies previously unused space atop the concrete roofs of
three water storage reservoirs. Its annual power output represents the
energy equivalent of about 2,640 barrels of oil. That's enough to offset
about 580 metric tons of carbon dioxide each year -- an impact comparable
to about 400 acres of green forest.

"From our perspective, the system has performed flawlessly and beyond
our expectations," Helminski continued. "It's the City of San Diego's
goal to be both environmentally sensitive and to ensure that our
projects make economic sense. This installation helps us to achieve both
goals."

The project reflects a major initiative to increase California's
renewable energy mix to 33 percent by 2020. Consequently, the Alvarado
Water Treatment Plant is attracting interest from other municipalities
considering solar power. "I'm out there once or twice a month giving a
tour," Helminski stated.

The City of San Diego, already a solar energy leader, is now pursuing
PPAs for its other water treatment facilities. "We're extremely proud
that San Diego leads California in both the number of solar energy
installations as well as in the amount of electricity generated using
photovoltaic panels," said San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders. "Solar panels
on the Alvarado Water Treatment Plant are a major step toward meeting
our goal of 50 megawatts of solar power within city limits by 2013."

According to Ian Knox, Kyocera's Southern California sales manager,
large-scale solar electric generating systems are becoming commonplace
in many regions of the globe. "Kyocera
solar panels are ideal for municipalities and water treatment
facilities because of their high efficiency and quality construction,"
Knox stated. "Kyocera is committed to environmental preservation and
providing quality solar energy solutions to the world."

About Kyocera

Kyocera Solar, Inc. (http://www.kyocerasolar.com)
is a world-leading supplier of environmentally sound, solar electric
energy solutions. With operating headquarters in Scottsdale, Ariz. and
regional sales centers in the U.S., Brazil and Australia, Kyocera Solar,
Inc. serves thousands of customers in both developed and developing
regions. The company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kyocera
International, Inc. of San Diego, the North American headquarters and
holding company for Kyoto, Japan-based Kyocera Corporation.

Kyocera
Corporation (NYSE:KYO) (TOKYO:6971) (http://global.kyocera.com/),
the parent and global headquarters of the Kyocera Group, was founded in
1959 as a producer of fine
ceramics (also known as "advanced ceramics"). By combining these
engineered materials with metals and plastics, and integrating them with
other technologies, Kyocera Corporation has become a leading supplier of
solar electric generating systems, telecommunications equipment,
copiers, printers, electronic components, semiconductor packages,
cutting tools and industrial ceramics. During the year ended March 31,
2009, the company's net sales totaled 1.13 trillion yen (approximately
US$11.5 billion). Kyocera marks its 50th anniversary in 2009,
and the 40th anniversary of its U.S. operations. It is ranked
#418 on Forbes magazine's 2009 "Global 2000" listing of the world's
largest publicly traded companies.

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SOURCE: Kyocera Solar, Inc.

The Alarus Agency, Inc. 
Leila Henry, 619-235-4542 
Cell: 619-368-7428 
leila@alarus.biz 
or 
Stephanie Kellems, 619-235-4542 
Cell: 619-347-2715 
skellems@alarus.biz 
or 
Kyocera Solar, Inc. 
Ian Knox, 858-614-2591 
ian.knox@kyocera.com

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