Toshiba, Sharp may work together in solar: media

Japan's Toshiba Corp President Atsutoshi Nishida leaves after a news conference on its restructuring plans in Tokyo January 29, 2009.

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's Toshiba Corp and Sharp Corp may work together in their solar power businesses amid growing demand for cleaner energy, the Asahi newspaper reported on Friday.

Toshiba planned to supply electricity distribution systems to Sharp, while Sharp would supply panels to Toshiba as they aimed to tap demand for large solar power systems at factories, buildings, and public facilities, the paper said.

Officials at Toshiba and Sharp were not immediately available for comments.

Sharp, the world's No. 2 maker of solar cells behind Germany's Q-Cells, said in January it would bring forward the start of a new domestic solar cell plant to the end of this year from spring 2010.

Shares in U.S.-listed solar firms surged on Thursday on hopes for expanded Chinese subsidies for clean-power systems.

(Reporting by Sachi Izumi; Editing by Rodney Joyce)