Sharp to Begin Mass Production of New Single Crystalline Solar Cells

Sharp Corporation has developed a new single crystalline solar cell with what the company says has a high conversion efficiency.


Sharp will begin mass producing this solar cell at an annual production capacity of 200 MW within fiscal year 2010 at its solar cell plant in Green Front Sakai, located in Sakai City, Osaka Prefecture, Japan. The facility will manufacture from solar cells through to solar modules.


The total investment in the facility will be 15 billion Yen.


This single crystalline solar cell with high conversion efficiency uses a Back Contact structure (electrodes are connected on the back-side), which eliminates the need for electrodes to be set on the front-side. This new structure increases the light-receiving area on the front-side’s surface.


In addition, a new alignment technology (Alignment Sheet system), which reduces the connection resistance between adjacent cells, was also developed. A broad range of applications in the global market, including residential and industrial use, can be anticipated in the future.

Further details about: Sharp Corporation