Sharp Corp., an Osaka, Japan-headquartered producer of solar and electronic products, has plans to increase the production capacity at its Katsuragi Plant in Nara Prefecture, Japan, by 110 MW in March to meet the demand for the company's solar cells.
As a result of the increase, the plant will reach a capacity of 710 MW per year to supply its products on a global scale, the company says. This growth is in response to the expansion of solar cell use in the industrial market.
In related news, Sharp is opening a plant in Toyama Prefecture, Japan, to produce silicon for solar cells. Sharp has been promoting the use of silicon raw material by reducing the thickness of its solar cells and improving the yield of cells and modules. Because these newly developed technologies are becoming more practical, Sharp can start production of silicon for solar cells at the Toyama site, the company adds.
