WREXHAM, — Sharp Electronics is doubling the size of its photovoltaic solar panel plant in this northern Welsh town to meet soaring demand for solar energy systems across Europe. The company announced an investment of approximately $18.2 million in its Wales facility.

Production capacity will be doubled and the existing 110 Megawatts (MW) capacity will be expanded to 220MW. This expansion will make the facility one of the largest PV solar module plants in the world," Sharp said in a statement. The Wrexham plant was opened in 2004 with an annual capacity of 20MW.

Denise Marsden, general manager at Sharp Manufacturing at the Wales site, said, "The fact that we are willing to invest further in Wales is testimony to the quality and skills of the local workforce. Sharp is at the forefront of photovoltaic technology. As the search for greater renewable energy resources continues, the expansion will give us the capacity to meet the increasing needs of the market." Sharp is one of the world's largest producers of photovoltaic panels, which convert sunlight into electricity.

Wales' Enterprise Minister Andrew Davies said Sharp's investment in increased production capacity at Wrexham was "a milestone for Wales."

He added, "This latest investment by Sharp to create in North Wales one of the biggest and most advanced solar module plants in the world is an extremely important boost to the Welsh presence in this sector.

"Clean and renewable energy is one of the most important sectors in the future economy -- and its further growth is one of the Assembly Government's priorities. Thanks to a range of initiatives and investments by research institutes and by companies large and small, Wales is beginning to lead the way."

The Sharp Corporation has a long history of involvement in the solar power industry -- beginning research and development in solar energy in 1959 and commencing the mass production of solar cells in 1963.

International Business Wales is the economic development arm of the Welsh Assembly Government with the responsibility of helping international corporations locate operations in Wales, and with promoting international trade by Welsh businesses. IBW can assist businesses in finding suitable properties in Wales for their operations, help them in finding employees and in obtaining financial assistance from the Welsh government, when appropriate.