Sharp to mass produce new solar cell

At an annual production capacity of 200 MW within fiscal year 2010, Sharp Corporation will begin mass producing its new single crystalline solar cell with high conversion efficiency.

The new solar cell uses a Back Contact structure wherein electrodes are connected on the back-side, eliminating the need for electrodes to be set on the front-side, thus increasing the light-receiving area on the front-side's surface.

A new alignment technology has also been developed which features the reduction of the connection resistance between adjacent cells.

The mass production, reportedly worth $180 million, will be at Sharp's solar cell plant in Green Front Sakai in Sakai City, Osaka Prefecture, Japan.