October 19, 2004

San Jose, CA, USA: SunPower to Market High Power Solar Modules in North American Market

SunPower Corporation today announced the North American launch of its high-efficiency photovoltaic (PV) module line at the Solar Power 2004 conference in San Francisco. Previously, SunPower's breakthrough products had been available only in Europe.

SunPower SPR 210 Solar Module

"We are very excited to be launching these new products here in our home market," said SunPower CEO Tom Werner. "Our modules offer the customer a powerful combination of industry-leading performance and superior product appearance. We believe that these products are particularly well-suited to the rapidly growing residential market where aesthetics are very important and where homeowners want to maximize installed power on their limited roof area," Werner said.

"Failures in the North American power grid, the electricity crisis in California, natural gas shortages in the Northeast, depleting oil reserves in recent years, and concerns about global warming have all contributed to a renewed interest in alternative energy sources," said Werner. "The time is right for solar because of technology advances that have significantly improved power conversion efficiency."

SunPower's new product line comprises three module types, all utilizing SunPower's unique A-300 all-back-contact solar cells to generate up to 50 percent more power than traditional PV modules. The SPR-210 is SunPower's flagship product with total module area conversion efficiency approaching 17 percent and a power rating of 210 watts.

Designed specifically for use in grid-connected applications such as residential rooftop systems, the SPR-210's high-conversion efficiency allows customers to install more kilowatts of solar power within a limited roof area, while significantly reducing per-kilowatt installation costs. The SPR-200 is an all-black version of the SPR-210, incorporating a unique module package that makes the individual solar cells virtually disappear. The SPR-200 represents the ultimate combination of high efficiency and superior aesthetics to meet the needs of the most discriminating customers.

The SPR-90 is a 90-watt-rated module designed to charge 12-volt batteries in remote power applications. This module delivers higher battery charging current than conventional PV modules over a wide range of weather conditions from a significantly smaller footprint. The high power density of SPR-90 modules can reduce the costs typically associated with remote power systems, including transportation, the array support structure, and installation labor.

Further details about: SunPower Corporation