Sharp Solar

Sharp Solar, a subsidiary of Sharp Electronics, is a solar energy products company owned by Sharp Corporation and based in Osaka, Japan.

Products
The 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 and Memphis, Tennessee in 2014.

History
Sharp began researching solar cells in 1959 with mass production first beginning in 1963. Production capacity amounted to 324 MW in 2004. In 2010, they were the #1 producer of PV cells, in terms of revenues.

Timeline
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