TOKYO, September 16, 2013 – Rakuten Solar, PV system sales website operated by Rakuten Inc., today announced that it will begin sales of home photovoltaic (PV) systems of Yingli Green Energy, a Chinese photovoltaic module manufacturer, in October.
The Rakuten Solar service was launched in July 2012 with the aim of providing more households with low-cost solar power generation systems. Rakuten Solar has been providing Japanese solar panels for home PV systems to date, but it is now offering a lower-cost imported option in order to enable more Japanese households to install solar power, thus promoting increased renewable energy generation in this country. This increases the options available to customers considering installing a PV system.
The maker of Yingli Solar power systems to be offered by Rakuten Solar is Yingli Green Energy Holding Company Limited, the world’s largest PV manufacturer1 and a company highly regarded for quality. Its Japanese subsidiary, Yingli Green Energy Japan Corporation, Ltd., was granted the JIS Q 89012 reliability certification – a first for a Japan-based company – in August 20123.
Rakuten Solar plans to begin sales in late October at a lower price point for existing Rakuten Solar products. Rakuten Solar will continue to broaden the range of products it offers in order to meet the demand for solar power, which is expected to grow in response to power price hikes and other factors.
About Rakuten Solar
Rakuten Solar is a solar power generation systems sales service launched in July 2012 by Rakuten. Rakuten Solar’s greatest advantage is that it offers services with reasonable prices by providing integrated services spanning from solar panel sales to installation, without the use of intermediaries. Rakuten Solar has partnered with Ecosystem Japan Co., Ltd. to establish a framework where it can provide low cost systems and services without compromising quality. In February 2013, Rakuten made an equity investment in Ecosystem Japan.
About Yingli Green Energy
Yingli Green Energy Holding Company Limited (NYSE: YGE), which markets its products under the brand “Yingli Solar,” is the world's largest photovoltaic module manufacturer in terms of shipments. With 2,450 MW of vertically-integrated annual production capacity, Yingli Green Energy’s manufacturing covers the photovoltaic value chain from ingot casting and wafering through solar cell production and module assembly. Headquartered in Baoding, China, Yingli Green Energy has more than 20 regional subsidiaries and branch offices and has distributed more than 7,000 MW PV modules to customers worldwide. For more information please visit www.yinglisolar.com and join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Weibo.
1. RTS Corporation, August 2013
2. Certification system established in February 2012. It is a standard to certify the long-term reliability of solar panels for sale with respect to design and manufacture, as well as long-term product warranties
3. http://www.tuv.com/jp/japan/about_us_jp/press_2/news_1/newscontentjp_113412.html