Facts about Solar Technology from SunPower
Highest Efficiency Solar Panels
SunPower makes the highest efficiency solar panels you can buy for your roof.*Source: Highest of over 3,200 silicon solar panels, Photon Module Survey, Feb 2014.
SunPower holds the world record for the highest efficiency silicon solar panel.*Source: Green, M. A., et al., “Solar Cell Efficiency Tables (version 43)," Progress in Photovoltaic, 2014.
SunPower® X-Series panels deliver 38% more power.*Source: SunPower 345W panel vs. Conventional Panel (250W, 15.3% efficient, approx. 1.6 m2)
SunPower® E-Series panels deliver 31% more power.*Source: SunPower 327W panel vs. Conventional Panel (250W, 15.3% efficient, approx. 1.6 m2)
Highest Reliability Solar Panels
Unmatched reliability*Source: #1 rank in "PV Module Durability Initiative Public Report," Fraunhofer ISE, Feb 2013. Five out of the top 8 largest manufacturers were tested. Campeau, Z. et al. "SunPower Warranty Review, Feb 2013.
SunPower's warranty guarantees the most power.*Source: Compared with the top 15 manufacturers. SunPower Warranty Review, Feb 2013.
SunPower panels average only 0.25% power loss per year over the first 25 years.*Source: Jordan, Dirk “SunPower Test Report,” NREL, Q4-2014; Campeau, Z. et al. "SunPower Module Degradation Rate," SunPower white paper, Feb 2013.
One out of every 20,000 panels has been returned under warranty.*Source: Hasselbrink, E., et al. "Validation of the PVLife Model Against 3 Million Module-Years of Live Site Data." 39th IEEE PVSC, Tampa, Florida, 2013.
SunPower predicts its panels will have a useful life of more than 40 years.*Source: "SunPower Module 40 Year Useful Life" SunPower white paper. Feb 2013. Useful life is 99 out of 100 panels operating at more than 70% of rated power.
SunPower panels ranked #1 in Fraunhofer durability testing.*Source: Ferrara, C., et al. "Fraunhofer PV Durability Initiative for Solar Modules: Part 2". Photovoltaics International, 77–85. 2014. Five out of the top 8 largest silicon solar panel manufacturers were tested for the 2013 report. Three additional silicon solar panels were tested for the 2014 report.
SunPower Utility-scale power plants with onsite O&M staff, deliver more than 99% availability.*Source: BEW/DNV Engineering, "Availability Evaluation Report," Jan 2013. Requires on-site O&M staff.
Highest Solar Panel Energy Production, Year 1
SunPower X-Series panels deliver 8-10% more energy per watt in the first year.*Source: BEW/DNV Engineering "SunPower Yield Report," Jan 2013, with CFV Solar Test Lab Report #12063, Jan 2013 temp. coef. calculation. Compared to a Conventional Panel (250W, 15.3% efficient, approx. 1.6 m2)
SunPower E-Series panels deliver 7-9% more energy per watt in the first year.*Source: BEW/DNV Engineering "SunPower Yield Report," Jan 2013. Compared to a Conventional Panel (250W, 15.3% efficient, approx. 1.6 m2)
SunPower panels maintain their energy production much better than Conventional Panels in partly-shaded conditions.*Source: PVEvolution Labs "SunPower Shading Study," Feb 2013. Compared to a Conventional Panel (240W, 15% efficient, approx. 1.6 m2)
SunPower X-Series panels have 5x less power drop from a single leaf shading a panel.*Source: PVEvolution Labs "SunPower Shading Study," Feb 2013. Compared to a Conventional Panel (240W, 15% efficient, approx. 1.6 m2)
SunPower E-Series panels have 3x less power drop from a single leaf shading a panel.*Source: PVEvolution Labs "SunPower Shading Study," Feb 2013. Compared to a Conventional Panel (240W, 15% efficient, approx. 1.6 m2)
Highest Solar Panel Energy Production, 25 Years
SunPower X-Series solar panels
SunPower X-Series solar panels produce 21% more energy per rated watt over the first 25 years*Source: SunPower 345W compared to a Conventional Panel (240W, 15% efficient, approx. 1.6 m2), 9% more energy per watt, 0.75%/yr slower degradation. BEW/DNV Engineering "SunPower Yield Report," Jan 2013, with CFV Solar Test Lab Report #12063, Jan 2013 temp. coef. calculation. Campeau, Z. et al. "SunPower Module Degradation Rate," SunPower white paper, Feb 2013.
SunPower X-Series solar panels produce 70% more energy from the same space over the first 25 years*Source: SunPower 345W compared to a Conventional Panel (240W, 15% efficient, approx. 1.6 m2), 9% more energy per watt, 0.75%/yr slower degradation. BEW/DNV Engineering "SunPower Yield Report," Jan 2013, with CFV Solar Test Lab Report #12063, Jan 2013 temp. coef. calculation. Campeau, Z. et al. "SunPower Module Degradation Rate," SunPower white paper, Feb 2013.
A SunPower X-Series solar panel produces the same total energy in its first 14 years as a Conventional solar panel running for 25 years*Source: SunPower 345W compared to a Conventional Panel (240W, 15% efficient, approx. 1.6 m2), 9% more energy per watt, 0.75%/yr slower degradation. BEW/DNV Engineering "SunPower Yield Report," Jan 2013, with CFV Solar Test Lab Report #12063, Jan 2013 temp. coef. calculation. Campeau, Z. et al. "SunPower Module Degradation Rate," SunPower white paper, Feb 2013.
SunPower E-Series solar panels
SunPower E-Series solar panels produce 20% more energy per rated watt over the first 25 years*Source: SunPower 327W compared to a Conventional Panel (240W, 15% efficient, approx. 1.6 m2), 8% more energy per watt, 0.75%/yr slower degradation. BEW/DNV Eng. "SunPower Yield Report," Jan 2013. Jordan, Dirk "SunPower Test Report," NREL, Oct 2012. Campeau, Z. et al. "SunPower Module Degradation Rate," SunPower white paper, Feb 2013.
SunPower E-Series solar panels produce 60% more energy from the same space over the first 25 years*Source: SunPower 327W compared to a Conventional Panel (240W, 15% efficient, approx. 1.6 m2), 8% more energy per watt, 0.75%/yr slower degradation. BEW/DNV Eng. "SunPower Yield Report," Jan 2013. Jordan, Dirk "SunPower Test Report," NREL, Oct 2012. Campeau, Z. et al. "SunPower Module Degradation Rate," SunPower white paper, Feb 2013.
A SunPower E-Series solar panel produces the same total energy in its first 15 years as a Conventional solar panel running for 25 years*Source: SunPower 327W compared to a Conventional Panel (240W, 15% efficient, approx. 1.6 m2), 8% more energy per watt, 0.75%/yr slower degradation. BEW/DNV Eng. "SunPower Yield Report," Jan 2013. Jordan, Dirk "SunPower Test Report," NREL, Oct 2012. Campeau, Z. et al. "SunPower Module Degradation Rate," SunPower white paper, Feb 2013.