ELECTRONICS: Sharp plans solar-cell plant in Europe

Sharp Corp. plans to build a new factory for solar cell panels in Europe in 2009 and more than double its annual production capacity by April 2010, sources said Thursday.

The new plant forms part of Sharp's plan to raise annual production capacity more than eightfold to the equivalent of more than 6,000 megawatts by around 2012.

The company is planning to construct four other solar cell factories abroad after 2010.

The five overseas factories will produce thin-film type solar cells, which use less silicon than conventional products.

Sharp earlier announced plans to build a 72- billion-yen factory for thin-film type solar cells in Sakai, Osaka Prefecture.

The plant will begin operations by March 2010.(IHT/Asahi: March 28,2008)