At the end of 2009, the electronics-manufacturing company Panasonic bought 50.2 percent of Sanyo, its biggest rival in the industry at the time.

The majority purchase paved the way for an announcement this week that Panasonic would combine Sanyo’s solar modules line of business with its own networks — in energy management, electrical technology and sales – to offer a new line of energy-related home products. The companies will kick off the venture by releasing the HIT 215 Series household solar power generation systems at the beginning of July.

The main feature is a single-crystalline hybrid solar cell, which was originally a product of Sanyo. The panel allows for two different installation options. One is the “Sheathing Attached Type F,” in which the panel can be directly installed onto the outer covering of new homes. The second is the “Rooftop-Mounted Type,” which Sanyo recommends for newly renovated homes.

As a result of the new collaborative relationship, Sanyo’s HIT panels may be integrated with Panasonic’s home energy management system, called “Lifinity.” Homeowners can use Lifinity to track the system’s production, their hourly electricity usage and utility savings.

According to the companies’ press release, the tie-up is an effort to “boost its [Panasonic's] product strengths in devices that create energy, store energy, and save energy; its ability to offer value by linking these devices together as systems; and its capacity to sell these products and systems across the globe. Such initiatives are designed to accelerate the growth of its energy systems business as a flagship business for the entire company.”

Panasonic is looking to expand in the market quickly. By 2012, the international technology company hopes to gain market share of at least 35 percent in Japan.