Sekisui Chemical is considering transforming Sharp's Osaka plant into a hub for next-generation solar cell production

Sekisui Chemical Co. is exploring the possibility of acquiring part of Sharp Corp.'s plant in Osaka Prefecture, with plans to turn the site into a production hub for next-generation solar batteries, according to sources familiar with the matter.

The chemical company intends to manufacture perovskite solar cells at the facility. These cells are thin, lightweight, and flexible, making them suitable for installation on surfaces where traditional solar panels cannot be used, such as curved surfaces and building exteriors. In recent years, this technology has gained significant attention due to its potential to greatly enhance solar power generation.

The project is likely to receive support from Japan's industry ministry, as it aligns with the country’s decarbonization goals, the sources added. Since perovskite solar cells are primarily made from iodine and Japan is the world's second-largest producer of the element, building a domestic supply chain for the technology would further boost Japan's economic security.

While Sekisui Chemical has not yet made a final decision, a company representative stated, "We cannot comment on the reported plan as nothing has been decided yet."

Sharp recently ceased production of large liquid crystal display panels at the Sakai plant, the only LCD panel manufacturing facility in Japan, to reduce losses in its unprofitable business. The company announced in June that part of the site would be converted into one of Asia's largest artificial intelligence data centers to revitalize its operations.

SoftBank Corp. is in discussions with Sharp about acquiring a separate part of the plant to establish an AI data center. However, the section Sekisui Chemical is interested in does not overlap with the area that SoftBank and Sharp plan to use, and Sekisui also intends to utilize some of the existing equipment, such as clean rooms, according to sources.