The new facility in Sicily shows the Japanese electronics giant forging ahead with its plan to localise PV production in key global markets.

Last year Sharp linked up with EGP with the intention of installing and owning 500MW of PV capacity around the Mediterranean by 2016.

In order to ensure a steady stream of modules and boost its market share in Europe it also formed 3Sun – a three-way joint venture with EGP and Geneva-based semiconductor giant STMicroelectronics – to build the new module factory in Catania.

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