Sharp plans to withdraw solar panel production in EU and US Nuying Huang,Taipei;Jackie Chang,DIGITIMES[Friday 28 September 2012]Japan-based Sharp plans to cut solar panel production in Europe and the US.The firm plans to gather resources and focus on Japan and other Asia markets.Sharp hopes to increase its domestic solar market share from 30%in 2012 to 40%in 2013 and has been focusing on highly profitable rooftop solar PV system projects.
Sharp is expected to issue OEM orders for solar products hence Taiwan-based solar cell makers that have been cooperating closely with Sharp such as Gintech,Motech,Neo Solar Power(NSP),DelSolar,and Taiwan Solar Energy Corporation(TSEC)are expected to benefit.
To achieve corporate restructuring,Sharp plans to sell three of its four solar cell plants in Japan.Also,the firm plans to sell solar equipment before end of its 2012 fiscal year.Solar cell production will be integrated into Sharp's plant in Sakai city in Osaka and the extra workforce will be shifted to other departments to avoid lay-offs.
In the past,due to high production costs,Sharp issued solar cell OEM orders to peers in China and Taiwan.However,due to the anti-dumping investigations in the US and EU against China-based solar firms,Sharp has reportedly increased its reliance on Taiwan-based peers.Sharp's plan to cut solar production is seen as beneficial to Taiwan-based players.In the past,Sharp has been cooperating with Gintech,however,other Taiwan-based solar firms have been obtaining certification from Sharp.
