Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. had just completed the installation of two “Solar Parking Lots" that are a completely independent and clean system eliminating the use of fossil fuels and prove Sanyo to be a leader in the field of Green Energy. Now they move to the next and want to introduce a new system of energy production by '13.

Sanyo has started to undertake full-fledged expansion of its energy solution business to bring about a dramatic reduction of CO2 emissions and running cost to various facilities, such as factories, schools, and stores, through offering the Smart Energy Systems (SES) which combine technologies for Energy Creation (photovoltaic system), Energy Storage (rechargeable battery), and Energy Saving (commercial equipment, etc.).

The installation of “Solar Parking Lots” is a part of this initiative. For each of the bicycle parking lots operated by the city of Setagaya at Keio Line Sakurajosui Station and Tokyu Den-en Toshi Line Sakurashinmachi Station, HIT*1 solar panels (approximate 46m2, 7.56kW) are installed on the roof to generate sufficient power to recharge the batteries of a total of 100 “eneloop bike” units and illuminate the LED parking lot lights. “eneloop bike” is SANYO’s energy recycling electric hybrid bicycle featuring a regenerative charging function that enables electricity generation and battery charging during riding.

The 100 “eneloop bike” units provided at the three locations, including Odakyu Line Kyodo Station, in addition to Sakurajosui Station and Sakurashinmachi Station will be used as “community bicycles” by a wide range of people residing in and outside Setagaya.

By combining “HIT solar panels” with “lithium-ion battery systems”, SANYO’s Solar Parking Lot enables recharging the electric hybrid bicycles without any commercial power source, even at night or on a rainy day. The lithium-ion battery system also features AC power outlets that can be used to power external equipment during an emergency.

In addition, the installed system incorporates a “DC charger.” The “DC charger” enables photovoltaic energy generated and stored in DC (direct current) to be used directly and effectively without AC (alternative current) conversion.

Sanyo is promoting the SES as a system that efficiently stores power generated by a low CO2-emitting power generation system, such as a photovoltaic system, and does control so that the stored power is supplied to equipment in the most efficient way.

This system was developed with the aim of contributing to realizing a clean energy society by minimizing CO2 emissions and stabilizing power supply/demand. The Solar Parking Lot installed in Setagaya is a small-scale SES that generates clean energy in the “HIT solar panels” that are capable of the world’s highest-class power generation efficiency and stores it in the “lithium-ion battery systems.” The “eneloop bikes” will utilize this clean energy efficiently without any waste and enhance the convenience and comfort of people’s lives.

Now they are about to start marketing a next-generation energy system combining solar cells and storage batteries by 2013, company President Seiichiro Sano said in a recent interview. With an aim to secure electric power stably, the system combines solar cells, whose power generation is susceptible to the weather, lithium-ion batteries to store electric power and energy-saving technologies.

Sanyo aims to post ¥100 billion in sales by fiscal 2015. Sano perceives the U.S. as a promising market for the next-generation energy system because the U.S. has not yet laid down a complete network of power transmission lines. (Sanyo)