OREANDA-NEWS. In May 2013, construction was completed on one of the largest solar power generation plants in Thailand, one that Sharp Corporation had been contracted to construct by NED, an IPP in that country. The newly constructed 10.3 MW-dc power generation facility stands next to a 73.2 MW-dc one that was completed in March 2012. The two sites boast a combined output of approximately 84 MW-dc.

The plant will be operated by NED, which receives capital from DGA, a subsidiary of Mitsubishi Corporation of Japan.

NED placed a construction order for this project with Sharp, ITE, and ITD (the largest construction company in Thailand). Sharp collaborated on the design and construction of the plant and also supplied the solar modules and surrounding systems for it.

The power plant employs thin-film solar modules that, compared to crystalline solar cells, offer superior performance characteristics under high temperatures. Sharp supplied approximately 640,000 of these modules—along with the requisite surrounding systems—on an expansive area of about 2.16 square kilometers.

Maintenance services 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.

Targeting growing markets in Japan and newly emerging economies, Sharp will continue to develop a comprehensive business model that covers the design and construction of solar power plants, the procurement of solar modules and surrounding systems, and the provision of maintenance services.