[RenewableEnergyAccess.com] Sharp Corporation of Japan has developed a new polycrystalline photovoltaic (PV) module for residential applications that boasts a conversion efficiency of 15.8 percent. The module is designed to accommodate the diverse range of roof styles and configurations in the country. Sharp will introduce a full 15-model line-up that includes metal-roof models, flat-tiled-roof models, and peaked-roof/flat-roof/hipped-roof models that mount perfectly on the roofs of newly built or remodeled houses. Also, by adopting Dark Blue Cells featuring a specially processed surface, the appearance of the product has been improved to harmonize and coordinate with roofing materials. Of the new models for 2005, 14 will incorporate the new Dark Blue Cells, including the flagship model, the ND-157AR high-efficiency polycrystalline module.
