Sanyo to build new solar ingot and wafer production plant in Oregon

San Diego, Calif. — To meet increasing demand in the solar photovoltaic market, Sanyo North America Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of SANYO Electric Co., Ltd. (SANYO), has announced Sanyo's plans to build a new plant to manufacture silicon ingot and solar wafers in the Salem Renewable Energy and Technology Park in Salem, Oregon.

The second plant in the U.S. will be constructed and organized by a new company, Sanyo Solar of Oregon LLC. The plant will begin operations in October 2009, and be at full operation by April 2010 with a production capacity of approximately 70 megawatts (MW), bringing the total ingot and wafer production capacity in America to approximately 100 MW. Sanyo's goal for annual global production capacity is at least 600 MW by fiscal year 2010.

SANYO currently manufactures silicon ingot and wafers in the U.S. and solar cells in Japan, with module assembly plants located in Mexico, Hungary and Japan.