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Sharp increases cell capacity to 148 MW, aiming
toward 200 MW
As the company's 2002 Management Policy report forecasted last
January, Sharp Corporation has increased PV cell capacity to 148 MW.
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Sharp Corporation |
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A Sharp rise: Capacity increases at Sharp's
BIPV-adorned Shinjo No. 3 plant to 148 MW. |
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According to Yasumi Inoue, assistant manager for
product planning, production on a new polycrystalline cell line began
the end of July at its Shinjo No. 3 plant in Nara Prefecture, Japan.
Sharp now has four polycrystalline lines and one monocrystalline line.
Inoue declined to comment on the schedule for ramping up to full
capacity production, or just how much Sharp expected to produce by the
end of the year. In PHOTON International's World Market Survey on cell
production in 2001 (see 3/2002, p. 38), Sharp led all cell
manufacturers with 74 MW. Inoue said Sharp has plans to increase
capacity to 200 MW by the end of the fiscal year in March 2003.
In July, Sharp also opened a new module assembly plant at its Yao
facility in Osaka Prefecture. Inoue said the plant will produce module
power sizes that reflect current demand.
William P.
Hirshman
© PHOTON International, September 2002
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