KYOCERA PV System Powers a Long-Awaited Dream in San Diego
Kyocera employees have first-hand knowledge about the high-quality products the company provides. Therefore, it’s no surprise when employees and retirees choose Kyocera solar modules as they decide to break free of the ever-increasing power prices charged by utility companies.
Jim Ketterer, who retired from Kyocera in 2013, is an example of this growing trend. “As we did our research, we were pleased to find several independent testing labs that analyze solar panels,” Jim stated. “Kyocera was always ranked at or close to the top for efficiency, output and quality.”
Jim and his wife, Susan, wanted to power more than just their home: they have an orchard of nut and fruit trees that is irrigated by an agricultural well. San Diego installer Sullivan Solar sized their system to power both the house and their agricultural requirements.
Sullivan installed a total of 42 Kyocera KD250GX panels in two groups atop the Ketterers’ roof, with two SMA Sunny Boy inverters that convert the DC power produced by the panels into AC power for everyday use.
In addition to Kyocera’s 25-year module warranty, Sullivan guarantees the 10.5kW (DC) system to produce 16,200kWh per year for 10 years. This represents 106% of the Ketterers’ current power requirement, and will support plans to expand the orchard in the future without relying on utility power. Until then, the extra power is sold back to the grid.
“With water rates going through the roof, you can’t afford to run an agricultural business without a well,” Jim explained. “We recently upgraded our well to higher capacity, and now solar electric runs the well pump, minimizing our need for expensive local water.”
The Ketterers chose to buy their PV system rather than lease, and were able to take advantage of the 30% federal solar tax credit.
“We like the smart look of the panels on our roof, and we like knowing there is ‘Kyocera quality’ inside,” Jim said. “SDG&E continues to plan rate hikes, so it was an excellent time to install solar — we couldn’t be happier that we did.”
Sullivan Solar offers web-based system monitoring, so the Ketterers can see both instantaneous power production and cumulative data charts that show the daily, weekly, and monthly production.
“Without solar electricity for the well and booster pump, the agriculture costs would be significantly higher,” Jim explained. “Kyocera solar panels are enabling us to fulfill our dream of being small-scale farmers.”
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