RPT-INTERVIEW-Sharp Solar sees big opportunity in thin film

*Sharp's thin film sales could meet or exceed those of silicon-based cells

*Sharp will begin selling thin film cells in the United States next year

*Sharp's thin film cells should be more than 10 percent efficient when they reach the United States

By Nichola Groom

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif., May 9 (Reuters) - Sharp Corp (6753.T: Quote, Profile, Research), one of the world's biggest maker of silicon-based solar cells, is preparing for the day when cheaper but less efficient thin-film products could be its biggest sellers, an executive said on Friday.

Like rival solar companies Q-Cells (QCEG.DE: Quote, Profile, Research) and Kyocera (6971.T: Quote, Profile, Research), Sharp turned to thin film as prices skyrocketed on traditional solar's key raw material, silicon.

The company is already selling thin film products in Europe and will make them available in the United States in 2009, Ron Kenedi, vice president of Sharp's Solar Energy Solutions Group, said in an interview.

Thin-film solar's production costs are generally lower than silicon-based cells, although they are less efficient at turning sunlight into electricity.

"We're actually doing planning now for the future, where thin-film is just about the same as silicon-based," Kenedi said.