OSAKA (Kyodo) Sharp Corp. said Thursday that it and two Thai firms have jointly received an order for a solar power generation plant from Natural Energy Development Co., a Thai independent power producer.

Sharp will provide thin-film solar cell modules, related systems and construction services for the 73-megawatt plant, which will be one of the world's largest photovoltaic facilities, the Japanese firm said.

Its Thai partners are Italian-Thai Development Public Co., the largest Thai construction company, and its affiliate, Italthai Engineering Co.

Under the ¥22 billion project, Sharp and its Thai partners will start construction of the plant this month in Lop Buri Province around 170 km north of Bangkok and bring the plant into operation by the end of 2011, the Japanese company said.