Sharp is increasing production of solar panels at its factory in Japan to meet burgeoning global demand for the products, it said Monday.The company, which was recently tapped to supply more than 9,000 panels to power Google’s Mountain View, Calif., headquarters, said it would raise annual production capacity by a fifth to reach 600 megawatts per year.Sharp is already one of the largest manufacturers of solar panels, and with the expansion the factory, in Katsuragi, will have the largest output in the world of solar panels, Osaka-based Sharp said. It will spend about 3.5 billion yen (US$30 million) on the expansion and expects it to be completed in November.The solar panels in question use photovoltaic cells, which convert sunlight into electricity. Such panels are becoming increasingly popular in consumer and industrial power systems around the world. Sales of solar panels by Sharp totaled 80.8 billion yen in the April-to-September period this year, the company said last week. For the current financial year, from April 2006, Sharp expects solar panel sales to be 200 billion yen, which if achieved will be up 27 percent on the previous financial year.-Martyn Williams, IDG News Service (Tokyo Bureau) Related Links: Sharp Translator Helps Tourists Sharp Develops Triple-View LCD Sharp Prototype Ups High-Res Display AnteCheck out our CIO News Alerts and Tech Informer pages for more updated news coverage. Related content brandpost Sponsored by Rocket Software Why data virtualization is critical for business success Data is your most valuable resource—but only if you can access it fast enough to address present challenges. Data virtualization is the key. By Milan Shetti, CEO of Rocket Software Nov 28, 2023 4 mins Digital Transformation brandpost Sponsored by Rocket Software The hybrid approach: Get the best of both mainframe and cloud Cloud computing and modernization often go hand in hand, but that doesn’t mean the mainframe should be left behind. A hybrid approach offers the most value, enabling businesses to get the best of both worlds. By Milan Shetti, CEO Rocket Software Nov 28, 2023 4 mins Digital Transformation brandpost Sponsored by Rimini Street Dear Oracle Cloud…I need my own space Access results from a recent Rimini Street survey about why enterprises are rethinking their Oracle relationship and cloud strategy. By Tanya O'Hara Nov 28, 2023 5 mins Cloud Computing brandpost Sponsored by Rimini Street How to evolve IT systems into innovation engines Today’s IT leaders are more than eager to modernize with best-fit cloud solutions that drive innovation and rapid business impact, but they need to do so with ROI-based solutions. By Tanya O'Hara Nov 28, 2023 4 mins IT Leadership Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe