Sharp's photovoltaic (PV) modules are used for many applications, from satellites to lighthouses, and industrial applications to residential use.
Sharp Solar manufactures PV modules in multiple locations, though it shut down solar panel production at its factories in Wrexham, Wales[1] and Memphis, Tennessee[2] in 2014.
Historyedit
Sharp began researching solar cells in 1959 with mass production first beginning in 1963. Production capacity amounted to 324 MW in 2004.[3][4] In 2010, they were the #1 producer of PV cells, in terms of revenues.[5]
Timelineedit
1959: Started development of solar cells 1963: Began mass production of solar cells 1963: First to supply ocean buoy with solar power cells 1966: Installed solar on lighthouse 1967: Began development of solar space applications 1976: "Ume" satellite successfully launched with solar cells on board 1980: Released first solar calculator 1981: Began operations at Shinjo Plant (now Katsuragi) 1988: Reached 11.5% cell conversion for amorphous silicon solar cells 1992: Reached 17.1% cell conversion for polycrystalline solar cells 1992: Achieved world's highest cell conversion efficiency of 22% 1994: Commercialization of residential solar power system (grid-connected) 2000: Became global leader in solar cell manufacturing 2001: Obtained UL (U.S.) and TUV (EU) certification for PV modules 2002: Developed the industry's first string power conditioner 2003: Space PV module installed on Satellite Observatory "Free Flyer" (SFU) 2003: Began producing PV modules in the United States 2003: Began producing PV modules in Europe 2005: Developed solar cells that admit light and can be used as building materials for windows 2005: Began mass-producing thin film solar cells 2006: Katsuragi plant expands its annual production capacity to 600 megawatts, the world's highest at that time 2007: Expanded production capacity of PV modules to 200 megawatts in Europe 2008: Became first PV manufacturer in the world to achieve cumulative production of 2 GW 2008: Achieved industry's highest conversion efficiency for a polycrystalline PV module of 14.4% 2009: Launched thin film modules globally 2010: Launched world's highest efficiency Solar PV panel with greater than 32.5% efficiency 2010: Investment made into 2.8 GW annual production capacity
^"Sharp shuts down Wrexham solar manufacturing facility". 16 December 2013.
^"Sharp says to end solar panel production in U.S. By end-March". Reuters. 23 January 2014.
^"Sharp Solar Modules". from the original on 2016-11-16. Retrieved 2020-04-28.
^"Sharp Solar celebrates five years as world number one". from the original on 2007-06-26. Retrieved 2007-06-01.
^"Solarbuzz Raises Global Photovoltaic 2010 Market Forecast to 15.2 GW" 2012-03-12 at the Wayback Machine, SolarBuzz, 29 June 2010
External linksedit
Official website
January 01, 1970
sharp, solar, subsidiary, sharp, electronics, solar, energy, products, company, owned, sharp, corporation, based, osaka, japan, industrysolar, electricityfounded1959foundertokuji, hayakawaheadquartersosaka, japankey, peoplekatsuhiko, machida, representative, d. Sharp Solar a subsidiary of Sharp Electronics is a solar energy products company owned by Sharp Corporation and based in Osaka Japan Sharp SolarIndustrySolar ElectricityFounded1959FounderTokuji HayakawaHeadquartersOsaka JapanKey peopleKatsuhiko Machida Representative Director Chairman CEO Mikio Katayama Representative Director President COO ProductsSolar modules residential commercial utility OwnerSharp CorporationNumber of employees59 100 as of 10 2009 ParentSharp ElectronicsWebsiteglobal wbr sharp wbr solar Contents 1 Products 2 History 2 1 Timeline 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksProducts editThe company produces thin film modules and mono and poly crystalline silicon solar cells Sharp s photovoltaic PV modules are used for many applications from satellites to lighthouses and industrial applications to residential use Sharp Solar manufactures PV modules in multiple locations though it shut down solar panel production at its factories in Wrexham Wales 1 and Memphis Tennessee 2 in 2014 History editSharp began researching solar cells in 1959 with mass production first beginning in 1963 Production capacity amounted to 324 MW in 2004 3 4 In 2010 they were the 1 producer of PV cells in terms of revenues 5 Timeline edit 1959 Started development of solar cells 1963 Began mass production of solar cells 1963 First to supply ocean buoy with solar power cells 1966 Installed solar on lighthouse 1967 Began development of solar space applications 1976 Ume satellite successfully launched with solar cells on board 1980 Released first solar calculator 1981 Began operations at Shinjo Plant now Katsuragi 1988 Reached 11 5 cell conversion for amorphous silicon solar cells 1992 Reached 17 1 cell conversion for polycrystalline solar cells 1992 Achieved world s highest cell conversion efficiency of 22 1994 Commercialization of residential solar power system grid connected 2000 Became global leader in solar cell manufacturing 2001 Obtained UL U S and TUV EU certification for PV modules 2002 Developed the industry s first string power conditioner 2003 Space PV module installed on Satellite Observatory Free Flyer SFU 2003 Began producing PV modules in the United States 2003 Began producing PV modules in Europe 2005 Developed solar cells that admit light and can be used as building materials for windows 2005 Began mass producing thin film solar cells 2006 Katsuragi plant expands its annual production capacity to 600 megawatts the world s highest at that time 2007 Expanded production capacity of PV modules to 200 megawatts in Europe 2008 Became first PV manufacturer in the world to achieve cumulative production of 2 GW 2008 Achieved industry s highest conversion efficiency for a polycrystalline PV module of 14 4 2009 Launched thin film modules globally 2010 Launched world s highest efficiency Solar PV panel with greater than 32 5 efficiency 2010 Investment made into 2 8 GW annual production capacitySee also edit nbsp Energy portal nbsp Environment portal List of photovoltaics companies Photovoltaic array Photovoltaics Solar energy companies Sharp Corporation divisions and subsidiariesReferences edit Sharp shuts down Wrexham solar manufacturing facility 16 December 2013 Sharp says to end solar panel production in U S By end March Reuters 23 January 2014 Sharp Solar Modules Archived from the original on 2016 11 16 Retrieved 2020 04 28 Sharp Solar celebrates five years as world number one Archived from the original on 2007 06 26 Retrieved 2007 06 01 Solarbuzz Raises Global Photovoltaic 2010 Market Forecast to 15 2 GW Archived 2012 03 12 at the Wayback Machine SolarBuzz 29 June 2010External links editOfficial website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sharp Solar amp oldid 1189432674, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
