Sanyo Homes Co., a subsidiary of Sanyo Electric Co., recently announced it will begin selling prefabricated environmentally friendly homes that include full home solar power systems.
The rooftop arrays consist of a 3.78kw Sanyo solar panel based system and a 1. 57kw bank of lithium ion batteries, also made by made by parent Sanyo Electric Co. The home will automatically switch to battery power in blackouts, unfavourable conditions and at night.
The Sanyo homes will also include DC LED lighting and a heat pump for heating water. A heat pump indirectly uses solar power by extracting heat from the surrounding air to raise the temperature of water; even in very cold conditions.
While the homes will cost approximately AUD $67,000 more than conventional houses, the price will be offset with approximately AUD $33,000 in government subsidies. A 132 sq. meter prefabricated home will cost AUD $340,000 at current exchange rates after the subsidy.
In other solar news from Sanyo, the company announced the completion of an extension to the Nishikinohama Factory in Kaizuka City, Osaka. The new building is expected to start high-volume production of Sanyo HIT solar panels in December 2010. The building will be capable of an annual production capacity of 135MW, enabling the Nishikinohama Factory’s overall production capacity to reach 345MW annually – more than 1.6 times the present level.
Sanyo also recently provided details of the launch of two large lithium-ion battery system models, one for general energy storage and the other for electric motors. The company says their Standard Battery System for Energy Storage (DCB-101) can be easily incorporated into existing renewable energy systems. The batteries can be housed in a standard computer server rack, will have a capacity of 33.6 amp hours and weigh 19 kilograms each. Mass production is expected to start in March 2010.
