News

Sharp Solar Opens First US Manufacturing Facility

October 21, 2003 by Jeff Shepard

Sharp Solar Energy Systems, a subsidiary of Sharp Corp. (Japan), officially opened its first solar panel manufacturing facility outside of Japan in Memphis, TN. The factory, based at Sharp Manufacturing Company of America, is assembling 165W, 167W and 185W solar panels for residential and commercial installations. Current annual production capacity is 20MW, with room to expand production in response to growing demand.

Using mono-crystalline and poly-crystalline solar cells and glass frames, backing and other materials, the new facility assembles solar panels of various configurations. Panels from the first five months of production are being used in California, New York, and New Jersey, among other states. Sixty-seven people are directly employed in Sharp's solar manufacturing operations in Memphis. Additional jobs could be created in response to anticipated market expansion.