SunPower Maxeon panels provide greater peace of mind than Conventional Solar Panels“Conventional Panel” is a panel made with Conventional Cells. “Conventional Cells” are silicon cells that have many thin metal lines on the front and interconnect ribbons soldered along the front and back..
SunPower Maxeon panels lead the solar industry in panel efficiency and deliver more bill savings by generating the most solar power and long-term solar energy in a given amount of roof space. That means they generate more power in the same space than all other panels on the market. In fact, the SunPower Maxeon 3 panel was the first 400 watt solar panel in European and Australian home solar, where most Conventional Panels are rated for 280 – 310 watts.
Over time, the advantage grows, because SunPower Maxeon panels also have the lowest degradation rate in the solar industry. While most Conventional Panels tend to degrade around 0.75%/year, SunPower Maxeon panels have proven to degrade at less than one-third of that rate, or about 0.2%/yearJordan, et al, “Robust PV Degradation Methodology Application” PVSC 2018 and “Compendium of Photovoltaic Degradation Rates” PiP 2016.. To translate into real results – that means a SunPower Maxeon panel delivers up to 25% more energy in its first year of operation. In year 25, that advantage grows to about 45% more energy, for an average of 35% more energy during the first 25 yearsSunPower 450 W, 22.2% efficient, compared to a Conventional Panel on same-sized arrays (370 W mono PERC, 19% efficient, approx. 2 m²).
SunPower Maxeon panels also deliver greater peace of mind, having earned the trust of experts by being more reliable and durable—and backed by our industry-leading Complete Confidence Warranty. Not only is this warranty stronger, but unlike most conventional warranties, it is based on actual field-testing data. For example, the power warranty promises no more than a 0.25%/ year power drop – the strongest power warranty in solarBased on Oct. 2019 review of warranties on manufacturer websites for top 20 manufacturers per IHS 2018. This is backed by a study of more than 230MW across 149 actual global sites using a methodology developed in collaboration with NREL. We also know from actual field data that only 0.005% or 1 in 20,000 SunPower Maxeon panels have been returned under warranty"A Comparative Study: SunPower DC Solar Module Warranty Claim Rate vs. Conventional Panels." SunPower Corporation. 2019.Lastly, SunPower Maxeon panels are built with our customers in mind, which means higher sustainability standards and more elegant design aesthetics than Conventional Panels. SunPower Maxeon panels have pioneered sustainability efforts in solar manufacturing, and have been recognized with the prestigious Cradle to Cradle Certified designation for direct current (DC) panels. The Cradle to Cradle designation demonstrates the products' quality based on rankings of material health, material reutilization, renewable energy use, water stewardship, and social fairness.
SunPower Maxeon panels were also the first and only solar panel to disclose its ingredients through the Declare label – available for all Maxeon 2 and 3 panels. In March 2020, our Mexicali, Mexico manufacturing facility was re-certified by NSF Sustainability as Zero Waste to Landfill – and remains the only solar panel manufacturing facility to achieve this. The certification means that this facility diverts more than 99% of its waste, with 1% or less going to landfills.
The back-contact cell design of SunPower Maxeon panels also delivers an uncluttered and elegant design aesthetic – with panels available in black and white backsheets. This has made SunPower Maxeon panels the panel of choice for architects and designers.