Sharp Corporation has signed an agreement with SSP of Thailand to construct a 52 MW-dc large-scale solar power generation plant in that country. Construction will begin in January, with operations scheduled to start by the end of 2014.
The plant will be operated by power producer SSP, which earlier placed a construction order for the project with Sharp, ITE, and ITD (the largest construction company in Thailand). Sharp will collaborate on the design and construction of the plant and will also supply the solar modules and balance of plant (BOP) for it. When the new plant comes online, the total amount of power generation capacity of Sharp solar power plants in Thailand will exceed 150 MW.
The power plant will employ thin-film solar modules that offer superior performance characteristics under high temperatures. Sharp will supply approximately 400,000 of these modules—along with the requisite BOP—on an expansive area of about 1.3 square kilometers. Maintenance and operational control will be provided by Sharp Solar Maintenance Asia Co., Ltd. (SSMA), a Sharp subsidiary established in March 2011. Specially trained and qualified personnel will provide operational support by inspecting and servicing the entire plant.
Sharp will continue to develop a top-to-bottom business model that includes collaborating on the design and construction of solar power plants, supplying BOP, and providing maintenance and operational control services.