SunPower Solar Panel Review UK:
Pros
- Elegant design with panels having either black or white backsheets
- Higher power outputs
- Durability: they can withstand the hardest conditions
- Record-setting efficient solar panels
- Top reliability
- Expected life of 40 years
- Industry-leading warranty
Cons
- More expensive than most other panels so outlay will be higher
SunPower Solar Panels – In Brief:
SunPower Corporation were one of the original Californian silicon valley solar renewables manufacturers going back to 1985, so they have nearly 40 years of expertise in the field. Maxeon was spun off in 2020 as a subsidiary to sell the solar panels globally.
The panels are ‘top-of-the-crop’, a premium product, backed by years of technological innovation and development. Their primary selling point is that they generate more power than competitors’ offerings, and reduced degradation compared to other conventional panels, so over the long-term they work out as better value for money. SunPower solar modules come with an outstanding 25 to 40-year warranty, making them perfect as a residential solar panel option or for commercial purposes.
SunPower Company Overview:
The corporation sells Maxeon and SunPower brand solar products in more than 100 countries through a global sales network spanning more than 1,200 sales and installation partners across the globe. Outside the USA SunPower is the brand name but Maxeon and SunPower are the same products, with merely a name change.
Since founding in 1985 the company has sold 36 million solar panels, with over 300,000 users on 6 continents generating more than 5GW of electricity. 91.4 TWh of power has been generated by SunPower systems, with emissions-reduction the equivalent of taking nearly 14 million cars off the road for a year.
Strong R&D is a company focus, with constant innovation to improve the products being central to the SunPower ethos.
SunPower Solar Panels Specifications
The SunPower range is divided into two offerings: Performance 3 and Maxeon 6. Both are made of high purity monocrystalline silicon PERC cells. Essentially the former is a more budget range, with a 25 year warranty and the latter is the premium range with the highest efficiency.
The panels are designed to maximise energy generation through greater efficiency, enhanced performance in high temperatures, and higher energy conversion in low-light conditions such as mornings, evenings and cloudy days.
Robustness and reliability is a major feature of these panels. They are engineered to operate during all types of weather conditions, with crack-resistant cells and reinforced connections that protect the system against fatigue and corrosion.
Each panel has its own micro-inverter, unlike most competitor’s systems. What this means is that, instead of one inverter for the whole array, which means a single point of failure, a micro-inverter failure does not black out the whole system. For example, if there are four panels, one micro-inverter breakdown means that 75% power is still being produced from the remaining three panels. So the energy reduction until the defective component is replaced will be minimal.
The company claims that its environmentally-friendly methods of manufacturing and long-lifespan means that SunPower Maxeon panels are the most sustainable choice in solar.
Performance 3 Series
PERFORMANCE 3 AC (E3) Power: 370 – 385 W
PERFORMANCE 3 AC (E4) Power: 370 – 385 W
The Performance series uses a unique shingled cell design with six long strings of shingled cells in parallel. This design is more cost-effective and offers additional shade tolerance when partially in shadow.
AC Electrical Data (for both Performance 3 Series models)
Inverter Model: | IQ 7A @230 VAC |
Peak Output Power | 366 VA |
Max. Continuous Output Power | 349 VA |
DC Power Data (for Performance 3 Series models)
Nom. Power5 (Pnom) | 385 W | 380 W | 375 W | 370 W |
Module Efficiency | 19.6% | 19.4% | 19.1% | 18.9% |
Mechanical Data (for Performance 3 Series models)
Solar Cells Monocrystalline PERC |
Front Glass High-transmission tempered glass with anti-reflective coating |
Junction Box IP-68, PV4S, 3 bypass diodes |
Environmental Rating Micro-inverter Outdoor rated – IP67 (UL: NEMA type 6) |
Frame Class 1 black anodized |
Weight 22.2 kg |
Tested Operating Conditions (for Performance 3 Series):
Operating Temp. | − 40°C to +60°C |
Max. Ambient Temp. | 50°C |
Relative Humidity | 4% to 100% (Condensing) |
Max. Altitude | 2000 m |
Max. Test Load Wind: | 2400 Pa, 245 kg/m² back, Snow: 5400 Pa, 550 kg/m² front |
Design Load: | Wind: 1600 Pa, 163 kg/m² back, Snow: 3600 Pa, 367 kg/m² front |
Impact Resistance: | 25 mm diameter hail at 23 m/s |
Micro-inverter enclosure: | Class II double-insulated, corrosion resistant polymeric enclosure |
Maxeon 6 Series
The Maxeon 6 series comes in two versions: white or black backsheet, but this aesthetic choice aside, the versions are the same, so you need to specify the correct type for your design.
MAXEON 6 AC (E4) POWER: 410-425 W | EFFICIENCY: Up to 22.0%
MAXEON 6 AC POWER: 410-425 W | EFFICIENCY: Up to 22.0%
AC Electrical Data
Inverter Model: | IQ 7A @230 VAC |
Peak Output Power | 366 VA |
Max. Continuous Output Power | 349 VA |
DC Power Data
Nom. Power3 (Pnom) | 425 W | 415 W | 410 W |
Module Efficiency | 22.0% | 21.5% | 21.2% |
Mechanical Data
Solar Cells 66 Maxeon 6 Cells |
Tempered Glass High-transmission tempered anti-reflective |
Environmental Rating Micro-inverter Outdoor rated – IP67 (UL: NEMA type 6) |
Frame Class 1 black |
Weight 21.8 kg |
Tested Operating Conditions for Maxeon 6 series:
Operating Temp. | − 40°C to +60°C |
Max. Ambient Temp. | 50°C |
Relative Humidity | 4% to 100% (Condensing) |
Max. Altitude | 2000 m |
Max. Test Load Wind: | 2400 Pa, 245 kg/m² back, Snow: 5400 Pa, 550 kg/m² front |
Design Load: | Wind: 3600 Pa, 367 kg/m² back, Snow: 5400 Pa, 551 kg/m² front |
Impact Resistance: | 25 mm diameter hail at 23 m/s |
Micro-inverter enclosure: | Class II double-insulated, corrosion resistant polymeric enclosure |
SunPower Solar Panels Summary
Overall, SunPower offers one of the best choices for solar panel systems in the solar industry, encompassing higher performance, reliability, good aesthetics, and a world-beating warranty. The only disadvantage and it is a significant one for anybody wanting to set up a system on a fixed budget, is that these panels do come with a higher price tag than other solar panels. It is a difficult decision when considering residential solar panels to balance the superior lifetime performance against the increased upfront costs for a SunPower system.
If you are wanting some of the most efficient solar panels options out there, then you can’t go far wrong with SunPower Maxeon solar panels. As some of the best solar options available, investing in them is a move that will pay you back in the long-term despite the comparatively high SunPower solar panels cost.
SunPower Solar Panel FAQs
How do I get the 40 year Warranty?
In order to benefit from longer warranties, you need to register your SunPower Maxeon solar product within 6 months of the warranty start date, otherwise the 25-year warranty applies.
What is a “Shingled Cell”?
By cutting a single solar cell into 6 strips, then slightly overlapping them to make the cell, the SunPower P series panels can obtain better power in shady conditions and greater tolerance to cracking as the panel slightly flexes in use. This gives them an advantage over other conventional solar panel competitors.
