To meet burgeoning demand in Japan and abroad, Sharp Corp., a leading Japanese electronics manufacturer, has increased its annual production capacity for solar cells by an additional 100 megawatts (MW). It invested about 3.5 billion yen (U.S.$30 million) in its Katsuragi Plant in Nara Prefecture, which started full production in November 2006. The Katsuragi plant's solar cell production capacity of 600 MW per year is now the world's highest.

Despite concerns in the photovoltaic (PV) power generating market about a shortage of processed silicon (the raw material for solar cells), PV systems are increasingly being used in Japan both for industrial applications and for new residential construction in collaboration with home builders. In Europe and the U.S.A., demand is expected to expand even further in the future, particularly for industrial and commercial uses, thanks to the introduction of subsidies and implementation of policies mandating power buy-back programs by utilities.

To more effectively utilize raw materials, Sharp is working to make solar cells even thinner, to improve thin-film solar cells that employ minimal amounts of silicon, to establish highly efficient production systems and to expand and upgrade its production lines. As its future goal, Sharp plans to further expand its involvement in solar energy, which holds out tremendous potential as clean energy that does not generate substances that place a burden on the environment.



Posted: 2007/01/27 06:32:53 PM
Japanese version

TAG Energy , Manufacturing industry