Sharp Maintains Top Photovoltaic Share 6 Years in a Row

Sharp Corp., a major Japanese electronics manufacturer, maintained the world's top place for photovoltaic (PV) cell production volume in 2005, according to the March 2006 issue of "PV News," published by a research and consultant company on solar cells in the United States. According to the article, Sharp produced 428 megawatts (MW) of PV cells in 2005, up 32 percent from the previous year, and one-fourth of global production. The company has been the world's top producer in the field for six consecutive years since 2000.

Sharp increased its annual solar cell production capacity to 500 MW in November 2005. In addition, to meet the increasing demand for solar cells in Europe the company expanded the solar module production capacity at its UK factory up to 110 MW, more than double its original capacity, in February 2006. The company expects its sales of solar cells to reach 200 billion yen (U.S.$1.7 billion) in fiscal 2006, up 26.6 percent from fiscal 2005.

Global solar battery production reached 1,720 MW in 2005, a 44 percent increase from the preceding year. About half of this production was by Japanese companies, totaling 833 MW, a 38 percent increase over the previous year.


Posted: 2006/08/09 06:22:35 AM
Japanese version