1/4 of World’s Solar Cells Produced by Sharp
Yukiko Kanoh, Nikkei Electronics /Feb 29, 2008
Source: TechOn
http://techon.nikkeibp.co.jp/english/NEWS_EN/20080229/148271/
Sharp’s solar cell production (Source: Sharp’s estimates based on IEA PVPS Annual Report 2007). The amount through 1998 is a cumulative total. Sharp Corp has announced its cumulative production of solar cells surpassed 2GW at the end of 2007. Sharp said it is the first solar cell manufacturer that has ever marked cumulative production of 2GW across the world.
Based on the worldwide cumulative solar cell production of 8GW estimated by Sharp, its solar cells account for approximately a quarter of it. Sharp began its volume production of solar cells in 1963 and tandem thin-film solar cells in 2005. The company is also engaged in solar cell material and manufacturing equipment businesses. It established its Toyama plant for the production of Si solar cell materials in 2007 and a joint venture to develop manufacturing equipment for thin-film solar cells with Tokyo Electron Ltd in February 2008.
Sharp is currently the only Japanese solar cell manufacturer that is authorized by Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), and it handles solar cells for satellites as well. The company is planning to operate a new plant (in Sakai, Osaka) of thin-film solar cells some time in fiscal 2009. This new plant will have output capacity of 1GW per year.