<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0000032878-11-000048
<TYPE>3
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20111205
<FILING-DATE>20111207
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20111207
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>HAWKINS JULIAN C
<CIK>0001297459
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>3
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-08403
<FILM-NUMBER>111248859
</FILING-VALUES>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>C/O ENERGY CONVERSION DEVICES, INC.
<STREET2>3800 LAPEER ROAD
<CITY>AUBURN HILLS
<STATE>MI
<ZIP>48326
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
<FORMER-NAME>
<FORMER-CONFORMED-NAME>Hawkins Julian C
<DATE-CHANGED>20040716
</FORMER-NAME>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>ENERGY CONVERSION DEVICES INC
<CIK>0000032878
<ASSIGNED-SIC>3674
<IRS-NUMBER>381749884
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>0630
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>3800 LAPEER ROAD
<CITY>AUBURN HILLS
<STATE>MI
<ZIP>48326
<PHONE>248-475-0100
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>3800 LAPEER ROAD
<CITY>AUBURN HILLS
<STATE>MI
<ZIP>48326
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
<FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-CONFORMED-NAME>ENERGY CONVERSION LABORATORIES INC
<DATE-CHANGED>19710603
</FORMER-COMPANY>
</ISSUER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgardoc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0204</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2011-12-05</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000032878</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ENERGY CONVERSION DEVICES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ENER</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001297459</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HAWKINS JULIAN C</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>3800 LAPEER ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>AUBURN HILLS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MI</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>48326</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President and CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1599335</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents restricted stock units (RSUs) granted pursuant to the Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement (Agreement) in connection with the reporting person's appointment as Chief Executive Officer of Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. (ECD).  The RSUs settle on a one-for-one basis in shares of ECD common stock and vest 50% on 6/5/2012 and 50% on 12/5/2012 subject to the terms of the Agreement and the Executive Severance Plan, as applicable.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Julian C. Hawkins</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-12-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
