1959
Started development of solar cells
1961
A successful prototype transistor radio with solar cells was made and released in 1961.
1963
Success in mass producing solar cells
1963
A lighted buoy in the Tsurumi Shipping Lane, Yokohama Bay, the world’s first buoy supplied with a solar cells.
1966
Ogami Island Lighthouse installed with solar cells, Nagasaki Prefecture; with 225W it had the worlds Elargest solar power output at the time.
1967
Started development of space solar cells
1976
Successful launch of operational satellite "Ume" with Sharp's solar cells on board
1980
First calculators with solar cell batteries released.
1981
Operations began at the Shinjo Plant (now Katsuragi Plant).
1983
Production of a two-layer stacked solar cell using a roll-to-roll method
1988
Oita Marine Ranching system employs photovoltaic module.
1988
Cell conversion efficiency for amorphous silicon solar cells reaches 11.5%
1992
Cell conversion efficiency of 17.1%, the world’s highest for polycrystalline solar cells, is achieved.
1992
The world's highest cell conversion efficiency of 22% for single-crystal type solar cells capable of mass production is achieved
1994
Commercialization of residential solar power system (Grid-connected)
1998
A 200 kW system, one of the largest in Japan, with the world's first snow melting function
1999
Received the Japan New Energy Award and Ministry of International Trade and Industry Award
2000
Worldwide-leading manufacturer of solar cells/modules
2000
A multi-power conditioner that increases installability is commercialized in an industry first.
2001
Commercialization of a residential hip roof accommodating system
2001
Obtained Overseas Safety Standard certification UL (United States) and TUV (EU) for photovoltaic modules
2002
Development of the industry's first string power conditioner
2003
Space photovoltaic module installed on Satellite Observatory "Free Flyer" (SFU)
2003
Independent power generation system, operating stably even in a desert region of Mongolia
2003
Photovoltaic module production begins in U. S.
2003
European production of photovoltaic modules started
2003
Release of a 3 kW system photovoltaic module capable of being installed in the smallest area
2004
The largest level corporate solar cells installation in the U.S., at an airport distribution hub
2004
Announcement of an “illuminating solar cells, Ea combined solar cells and LED
2004
Started Solar Academy
2005
Development of solar cells that admit light and can be used as building materials for windows
2005
Started mass-production of thin-film solar cells
2005
Mass-production of tandem thin-film solar cells started
2006
Katsuragi plant expands its annual solar cell production capacity to 600 MW, the world's highest at that time.
2006
Realization of the world’s most advanced environmentally-conscious production protocols at Kameyama Plant
2007
Opening of the Toyama site, start of silicon manufacture for solar cells
2007
Success in developing mass-production of triple-junction thin-film solar cells
2007
Groundbreaking ceremony for the Manufacturing Complex for the 21st Century
2007
Award of Excellence at the 4th Eco Products Awards of Japan
2007
Expanded production capacity of photovoltaic module to 220 MW in Europe
2008
First in the world to achieve cumulative production of 2 GW of solar cells
2008
Installation of "Lumiwall", thin-film solar cells with built in LEDs, in the Yodoyabashi Redevelopment Building
2008
Achieved annual production capacity on the 1 GW scale through horizontal deployment of thin-film technology for TFT LCDs
2008
Achieved the industry's highest * conversion efficiency for a polycrystalline photovoltaic module, 14.4%
2009
Delivered new solar module for mobile devices
2009
Accomplished 35.8% conversion efficiency of triple-junction compound solar cells
2009
Tokai University won the 2009 Global Green Challenge in solar car equipped with Sharp solar cells
