                                                        Exhibit 5.1


March 9, 2004


Energy Conversion Devices, Inc.
2956 Waterview Drive
Rochester Hills, Michigan 48309

   Re:   Registration Statement on Form S-1.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

      I am the General Counsel of Energy Conversion Devices, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"). I am issuing this opinion in connection with the
preparation of a registration statement on Form S-1 (the "Registration
Statement") being filed on the date hereof with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "SEC") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act")
relating to the offering from time to time, in one or more offerings, by certain
of the Company's stockholders under Rule 415 of the General Rules and
Regulations of the SEC promulgated under the Act, of an aggregate of 1,146,678
shares of the Company's Common Stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Shares").

      In connection with the delivery of this opinion, I have examined originals
or copies of the restated certificate of incorporation of the Company, as
amended and approved by the board of directors and stockholders of the Company,
the bylaws of the Company, as amended and approved by the board of directors and
stockholders of the Company, the Registration Statement, resolutions adopted by
the Board of Directors and stockholders of the Company, and such other records,
agreements, instruments, certificates and other documents of public officials,
the Company and its officers and representatives, and have made such inquiries
of the Company and its officers and representatives, as I have deemed necessary
or appropriate in connection with the opinions set forth herein. I am familiar
with the proceedings taken by the Company in connection with the authorization,
registration, issuance and sale of the Shares. With respect to certain factual
matters material to my opinion, I have relied upon representations from, or
certificates of, officers of the Company. In making such examination and
rendering the opinions set forth below, I have assumed without verification the
genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to me
as originals, the authenticity of the originals of such documents submitted to
me as certified copies, the conformity to originals of all documents submitted
to me as copies, the authenticity of the originals of such latter documents, and
that all documents submitted to me as certified copies are true and correct
copies of such originals.

      I am a member of the Bar of the State of Michigan, and I have not
considered, and I express no opinion as to, the laws of any jurisdiction other
than the laws of the United States of America, the State of Michigan and the
General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

      Based upon and subject to the foregoing qualifications, assumptions and
limitations and the further limitations set forth below, I hereby advise you
that in my opinion, the Shares have been duly authorized by all necessary
corporate action on the part of the Company, have been validly issued and are
fully paid and nonassessable.



<PAGE>


Energy Conversion Devices, Inc.
March 9, 2004
Page 2


      I hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the SEC as Exhibit 5.1
to the Registration Statement and to the use of my name under the heading "Legal
Matters" in the prospectus which is part of the Registration Statement. In
giving this consent, I do not hereby admit that I am in the category of persons
whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or the rules and
regulations of the SEC.

      I do not find it necessary for the purposes of this opinion, and
accordingly I do not purport to cover herein, the application of the securities
or "Blue Sky" laws of the various states to the issuance and sale of the Shares.

      This opinion is limited to the specific issues addressed herein, and no
opinion may be inferred or implied beyond that expressly stated herein. I assume
no obligation to revise or supplement this opinion should the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware be changed by legislative action,
judicial decision or otherwise.

      This opinion is furnished to you in connection with the filing of the
Registration Statement and is not to be used, circulated, quoted or otherwise
relied upon for any other purpose.



                                          Very truly yours,


                                          /s/ Roger John Lesinski
                                          --------------------------
                                          Roger John Lesinski
                                          General Counsel



