SHARP OPENS MEMPHIS PLANT FOR SOLAR ENERGY PRODUCTS.

Sharp Corporation, Memphis, Tenn., a global leader in solar energy production, and its U.S. sales and marketing subsidiary Sharp Electronics Corporation, have officially opened its first solar panel manufacturing facility outside of Japan in Memphis, Tennessee. The factory in Memphis, based at Sharp Manufacturing Company of America, is assembling 165-, 167- and 185-watt solar panels for residential and commercial installations. Current annual production capacity is 20MW (megawatts), with room to expand production in response to growing demand.

The U.S. market for solar energy was 48MW in 2002 and is expected to climb to over 120MW by 2005 and 300MW by 2010. Each MW is the equivalent of 1,000,000 watts of electricity. The U.S. is currently the world's third largest producer of solar energy.

Using mono- and poly-crystalline solar cells produced by Sharp in Japan and glass frames, backing and other materials made in the U.S., the new facility assembles solar panels of various configurations. Panels from the first five months of production, are being used in California, New York and New Jersey among other states.

Sharp is marking the occasion of its solar plant opening by contributing two solar powered city guide bulletin boards to the City of Memphis and Shelby County, Tennessee. One board will be erected at the Tennessee Visitor Center located in downtown Memphis near the Mississippi River, and the other at the Memphis Zoo. The bulletin boards will highlight tourist sites and local events.

"Solar is one of Sharp's global, strategic priorities and reinforces our commitment to create new markets by addressing people's needs through one-of-a-kind products," said Toshishige Hamano, Corporate Senior Executive Director and Group General Manager International Business Group of Sharp Corporation. "Amid increasing environmental concerns, the clean, renewable energy provided by solar technology holds much promise for the future. With our accumulated knowledge and experience in the energy creation industry, Sharp is uniquely positioned to expand the market for solar in the U.S. and elsewhere just as we have done in Japan," he said.

In 2002, Sharp accounted for 22-percent of the total global demand of 560MW of solar energy, thereby holding the world's leading position for the third consecutive year. Effective next month, Sharp will increase its annual worldwide production capacity to 248MW as a result of the expansion of its Shinjo Plant in Japan.

Sixty-seven people are directly employed in Sharp's solar manufacturing operations in Memphis. Additional jobs could be created in response to anticipated market expansion. "Our Memphis location enables Sharp to better serve customers on both coasts. This is especially important to the East Coast markets that are experiencing significant growth in the use of solar energy," said Ron Kenedi, General Manager of Sharp Electronics' Solar Systems Division. According to Kenedi, it's also significant that Sharp is producing solar products at the Memphis plant alongside its popular microwave ovens. "This is symbolic of Sharp's commitment to make solar a mainstream energy alternative," he said.

"This is a proud moment and an important milestone for the solar industry in the U.S.," said Glenn Hamer, executive director of the Solar Electric Industries Association. "The decision by a market leader like Sharp Corporation to invest in a manufacturing plant in Memphis, Tennessee is clearly a strong vote of confidence in the U.S. solar market, currently the fastest-growing solar market in the world. Clean, quiet solar energy is destined to become an increasingly important source of power in the lives of our children and grandchildren, and the leadership of companies like Sharp will help to make that happen sooner," he said.

Sharp Corporation began research and development in solar energy in 1959. In 1963, Sharp became the first Japanese company to mass-produce solar cells. Sharp established solar energy operations in the U.S. in 2002. The company's position in the U.S. solar market is further strengthened by the availability of a Sharp- manufactured and branded UL approved inverter. This enables customers to purchase an entire residential solar energy system from a single manufacturer, an industry first.

Sharp Electronics Corporation is the Mahwah, N.J.-based marketing and sales subsidiary of Japan's Sharp Corporation. Sharp is a worldwide developer of the core technologies that are integral to shaping the next generation of home entertainment products, appliances and networked, multi- functional office solutions and mobile communication and information tools. Leading brands include AQUOS(TM) Liquid Crystal Televisions, 1-Bit audio products, the SharpVision(R) line of projection products, Zaurus(TM) Personal Mobile Tool, Viewcam(R) camcorders, Sharp Carousel microwaves, Imager(TM) digital multi-functional systems and the Notevision(R) line of multi-media projectors. Sharp Electronics Corporation employs approximately 2,000 people throughout the U.S. supporting more than 50 product lines.

For more information, call 201/529-8680 or visit http://www.sharpusa.com.