Why Choose Sharp - Our Solar Heritage
Sharp is a world leader in the evolution and production of advanced technology to harness the sun's power through Solar PV cells.
This global leadership comes from a long history of pioneering work in the development of solar cells that began as early as 1959, when few had the foresight to see the huge potential benefits.
Sharp was able to quickly lead the way forward, reaching a significant landmark with the installation of what was the world’s largest solar power system at the Nagasaki lighthouse.
Twelve months later Sharp was already working on solar cells for space travel – before man had even walked on the moon. Today, well over a hundred satellites circle our planet, efficiently performing their complex functions thanks to Sharp solar technology.
Here on earth, over 100,000 of our solar systems are providing power in countries around the globe, with output continuing to grow. All of which has helped to establish Sharp as a world leader in solar power.
History of Sharp Solar
1959 - Started development of solar cells.
1963 - Mass production of solar cells.
1966 - Installed photovoltaic (PV) module on the lighthouse in Nagasaki-the world’s largest output power at the time.
1976 - Sharp’s first installation of a PV system to power a Japanese satellite.
1980 - Introduced calculators with solar cell batteries into the market.
1992 - The world's highest cell conversion efficiency of 22% for single-crystal type solar cells capable of mass production.
1994 - Introduced PV Power Generation System into the residential market.
1995 - Received the 8th Technology Award from the Japan Society of Energy & Resources for its PV residential system.
1998 - Installed a 200 kW system, one of the largest in Japan, with the world's first snow melting function.
2000 - Worldwide-leading manufacturer of solar cells/modules.
2000 - Multi-power conditioner (inverter) that increases installability is commercialized in an industry first.
2002 - Development of the industry's first string power conditioner.
2003 - Space photovoltaic module installed on Satellite Observatory "Free Flyer" (SFU).
2005 - Started mass-production of thin-film solar cells.
2006 - Katsuragi plant expands its annual solar cell production capacity to 600 MW, the world's highest at that time.
2006 - Realization of the world’s most advanced environmentally-conscious production protocols at Kameyama Plant.
2007 - Success in developing mass-production of triple-junction thin-film solar cells.
2007 - Sharp sets up additional solar cell production line, production capacity expanded to 710MW per year, world’s highest.
2008 - First in the world to achieve cumulative production of 2.5GW of solar cells.
2008 - Achieved the industry's highest (*1) conversion efficiency for a polycrystalline photovoltaic module, 14.4%
2009 - Sharp achieves 35.8% conversion efficiency of triple junction compound solar cells.
2010 - Sharp is IEEE recognised for 25 years of solar commercialisation.
2010 - Sharp begins operation of the Sakai thin film/LCD factory with production capacity of 160MW - 1GW.
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