Sharp to boost solar cell, LCD output

TOKYO: Sharp Corp., the world's largest photovoltaic cell maker, said on

Friday it plans to boost annual output of solar cells by 50 per cent this year

and bolster its status as Japan's biggest liquid crystal display maker.

The company said it would add a new solar cell facility at its Nara plant in

western Japan some time this year, after which it sees output exceeding 150

megawatts. Sharp raised its solar cell output capacity to 94 megawatts last May

to outdistance rivals such as Kyocera Corp. Output now exceeds capacity at 100,

a Sharp spokesman said.

"We will adjust production depending on demand, which we hope will rise

because we have been aggressively marketing our solar cells for home use,"

a spokesman at Sharp said. The Nihon Keizai Shimbun said on Friday the renewed

annual output schedule will be enough to power 37,500 households. Some of the

power will be exported to Europe and the United States, it said.

Sharp said last month it expects industry-wide solar cell output to soar at

an annual rate of 40 to 50 per cent over the next several years, with Japan

accounting for over 50 per cent of global production by 2003. As for its liquid

crystal display (LCD) division, the company said it plans to invest up to 100

billion yen ($759 million) some time next business year for a new plant possibly

in Mie prefecture of central Japan.

Sharp said in September it plans to boost production of next-generation

continuous grain silicon displays at a new plant.

© Reuters Limited.