Kyocera solar modules power San Diego County’s first net-zero energy apartments

USA: Kyocera Solar Inc. announced that its solar modules are providing 100 percent of the power needed by H.G. Fenton Co.'s recently opened Solterra EcoLuxury Apartments in the Scripps Ranch suburb of San Diego, Calif.

The 338kW installation produces enough renewable electricity to power average residential and common area use in the 114-unit project. The project represents the bold vision of H.G. Fenton Company and its successful collaboration with CleanTech San Diego, Smart City San Diego and SDG&E.

“Every community we create is designed with the needs and wants of our customers in mind,” said Mike Neal, president and CEO of H.G. Fenton.

“Our residents tell us that conserving energy and saving money on their electricity bills is important to them. Solterra is the first apartment community in San Diego to derive all of the electricity residents need for daily living from the sun. Convenient technology features including in-home displays and smart thermostats will give residents the power to manage energy usage from their smartphones and make lifestyle choices that allow the system to generate the power they use. We are very excited to introduce this milestone project, which also includes numerous leading-edge ‘smart’ features to allow residents to control their power usage 24/7.”

The 1,380 Kyocera solar modules were installed by San Diego-based Home Energy Systems, Inc. on the roofs of the four apartment buildings, mounted atop carports and ground-mounted on a slope at the property’s south end.