Solar History
With more than one million customers worldwide and having shipped more than 50 million PV panels, Sharp has produced 14.3GW (gigawatts) of power, equating to a total CO2 avoidance of 156 Mt (megatons) of CO2. Sharp has a track record of over half a century - the industry’s longest standing solar experience, earning its solid reputation in the world of solar, with solar products at work in many areas; from family homes and installations in extreme environments such as lighthouses and satellites, to recently completed megawatt-scale solar power plants.
“Sharp’s innovation and developments into module technology over half a century have allowed us to always improve and adapt to market circumstances. We have managed to match expectations globally over the years, and we are proud to be recognised as a strong and reliable supplier and product partner. Our continued growth is testament to this, and in the last business year we saw a 70% MW (megawatts) shipment growth for the EMEA region. We are excited to showcase our heritage in solar energy solutions at Intersolar 2019, as well as introducing customers to some of our latest, ground-breaking solutions.”
Peter, Thiele, President of Sharp Energy Solutions Europe
Have a look at our pioneering solar history:
2019
Sharp Energy Solutions Europe collaborates with partners for the realisation of large-scale PV systems in the EMEA region
2018
Achieved 25.09% conversion efficiency (Back Contact), the world's highest, for 6-inch monocrystalline solar cells
2017
Sharps parent company Foxconn starts equipping production sites with Sharp PV modules
2016
Achieved 31.17% conversion efficiency, the world's highest in solar modules, using triple-junction compound solar cells
2015
Sharp successfully supports the energy transformation to renewable energy in Japan with solar power plants in the Fukushima region
2015
Released BACK CONTACT panels, which use monocrystalline solar cells to achieve 19.1% module conversion efficiency (now 20.0%)
2013
Achieved 37.9% conversion efficiency, the world's highest, for triple-junction compound solar cells
2012
Utility-scale solar power plant built in Thailand (84MW) followed by the start of IPP (independent power producer) business in Japan in 2013
2009
Tokai University won the Global Green Race in Australia in solar cars equipped with Sharp solar cells
2005
Solar panels cover the walls of the tallest building (122 m) in Manchester (CIS Tower), 7244 solar panels, 80 W, 391 kW of power, largest power generation facility in a commercial facility in Europe
1994
Sharp started to sell solar components in Europe
1983
40 units of 36-cell solar modules were installed at Tsubosaka-dera Temple (Nara) to illuminate the Big Buddha, which are still operating now after 36 years
1976
The first Sharp calculator with solar cells was released
1976
Japan's first operational satellite for space “Ume” equipped with Sharp solar cells. Sharp now has more than 170 satellite installations
1968
Sharp opens an office in Europe (Germany, Hamburg)
1966
Ogami Island Lighthouse in Nagasaki equipped with Sharp solar modules, with 225W it had the world's largest solar output at the time. Sharp now has more than 2,800 lighthouse installations
1963
Succeeded in the mass production of single-crystal solar cells
1961
A successful prototype transistor radio with solar cells was manufactured and sold
1959
Sharp became one of the first companies in the world to start development of solar cells