Sharp Electronics Corp., a marketing subsidiary of Sharp Corp. (Japan), has developed a new generation of lighting products by using solar cells and mercury-free light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Two solar cell lighting products were introduced. The first, is an Illuminating Solar Panel that integrates long-life, energy-efficient, high-intensity LEDs within thin-film, "see-through" solar cells into a single solar module.
For the first of the two projects, Sharp has developed a Crystalline Thin-Film Tandem Cell that merges amorphous silicon and crystalline thin-film silicon cells using original technology. The new cell achieves a conversion efficiency of 7.3%, approximately 1.5 times higher than conventional amorphous silicon cells. The service life of the LEDs embedded in the panel is approximately 40,000 hours, significantly longer than incandescent electric bulbs (1,000 hours) and fluorescent lamps (5,000 to 12,000 hours). In addition, they contain no hazardous mercury.
The second lighting product is a solar street light that combines more traditional solar cells with a pole incorporating high-intensity LED lights. This unit eliminates the need for underground or overhead wiring work. A 34 W polycrystalline module is combined with the hardware to make a solar-powered street light. High intensity LEDs are embedded within the top of the pole. The slim stainless steel body of the lighting pole houses the necessary battery and control circuitry.
Both products are currently only available to the Japanese market. The crystalline thin-film tandem cell with embedded LEDs will be available in November of this year, while the solar lighting pole will be available in mid-September.
