Sharp Corporation announced it will introduce a system to mass-produce thin-film photovoltaic (PV) modules at its Katsuragi Plant in Nara Prefecture this September. The 2 billion yen production system will have an annual capacity of 15 megawatts (MW).
Thin-film solar technology requires a very tiny amount of silicon compared to crystalline silicon photovoltaic modules, and additionally, can be used in applications that offer attractive design features such as “illuminating solar panels (Lumiwall)” where they are combined with LEDs, and see-through type solar panels that permit natural light to pass through.
Sharp’s crystalline thin-film tandem cells are based on a proprietary architecture that integrates amorphous silicon technology with crystalline thin-film silicon technology to boost conversion efficiency by 50% compared to existing solar cells.
The company says compared with existing Sharp products, conversion efficiency will be increased from 7 – 11%.
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