SunPower advantages

Leszek Pstras

Applications Engineer, UK

© 2012 SunPower Corporation

EFFICIENCY World record – 20% efficiency !

PERFORMANCE more kWh per kWp

RELIABILITY designed and tested for long life in real world

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SUNPOWER ADVANTAGES

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EFFICIENCY

PERFORMANCE

RELIABILITY

SunPower MaxeonTM cell

SunPower’s all-back contact solar cells vs. conventional c-si cells. A different technology built on a robust and proven monocrystalline substrate

Poly-Si

efficiency 14-17%

Mono-Si conventional

efficiency 16-19%SunPower cell

efficiency: 23-24.2%

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5

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EFFICIENCY

PERFORMANCE

RELIABILITY

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SunPower Energy Performance

Independent tests show that SunPower modules provide superior energy performance (kWhs/kWp) at sites throughout the world

University of Cyprus• 4% more than HIT (Sanyo)• 7% more than CdTe (First Solar)• 6% more than c-Si (Av. of 4)• 8% more than a-Si (Mitsubishi)• 3 yrs of data – Jun 06 to Jul 09

CREST• 1% more than HIT

(Sanyo)• 9% more than c-Si• 1 yr of data – Apr 07 to Apr 08ASU

• 7% more than c-Si* Data from summer 2008

University of Stuttgart (IPE)• 7% more than HIT (Sanyo)• 6% more than CdTe (First Solar)• 7% more than c-Si (Av. of 4)• 9% more than a-Si (Schott

Solar)• 3 yrs of data – Jun 06 to Jul 09

PHOTON LABORATORY (www.photon.info/laboratory)

Aachen, Germany (orientation: South, tilt: 28o)

Over 170 types of modules tested

Yield at module level!

SU

SUNPOWER RESULTS

Top performing modules!

+7 % vs crystalline Silicon average

+9% vs thin film avg, +13% vs ribbon avg

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SunPow

er 3

27NE

SunPow

er 2

45NE

Jinko

190

M-7

2

Huang

he 1

90(3

6)M

SolarW

orld

225

Trina

Solar 1

80DC01

Bosch

M 6

0 23

0

Yingli 2

60C (P

anda

)

Sharp

NU-1

85E1

Serap

him 2

20-6

PB

Yingli 2

40P-2

9b

Jinko

Sola

r 235

P-60

Coner

gy 2

35P

SolarW

orld

245

REC 230

PE

Trina

Solar 2

25PC05

Sunte

ch 2

05-1

8/Ud

Q-Cell

s SM

ART UF 9

5

First S

olar 2

65

Everg

reen

210

-fc3

Sovell

o X-2

05-fa

1800

850

900

950

1000

Photon Lab test results - energy yield (Jan - Sept 2012)

Monocrystalline Si

Polycrystalline Si

Thin Film

Ribbon

Mono-Si average (67 systems)

Poly-Si average (78 systems)

Thin Film average (3 systems)

Ribbon average (8 systems)

Yie

ld [

kW

h/k

W]

Source: Photon International 2008

No Light Induced Degradation

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Extremely low degradation rate

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Broad spectral response

SunPower cells capture more light from the blue and infra-red parts of the spectrum through lightly doped front surface and light-trapping.

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Voltage builds rapidly at low insolation levels

Better performance in overcast conditions

Inverter wakes up earlier and runs longer

Better low light performance

SunPower SPR-90

Mono Crystalline Silicon

Poly Crystalline Silicon

CuInSe2

Amorphous Silicon

SunPower solar cells generate more power at low light levels relative to other technologies

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Lower operating temperature

High efficiency modules operate at lower temperatures since they convert more light to electricity (lower efficiency modules convert more light to heat instead)

Higher Performance at Higher Temperatures

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Due to lower temperature coefficients and lower normal cell operating temperatures (NOCT), SunPower panels generate more energy at higher temperatures compared to standard c-Si modules

Temp Coefficient:

SunPower -0.38% / °C

Std c-Si -0.47% / °C

NOCT:

SunPower 45 °C +/-2

Std c-Si 47 °C +/-20 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40

(C°)

Performance ratio shows how the modules behave under real conditions (compared to STC). It reflects modules efficiency

across the whole irradiance range, spectral sensitivity over all wavelenghts as well as temperature effects.

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Source: Photon Lab test results (Jan – Sept 2012)

April May June July August September75

80

85

90

95

100

SunPower 327NE

Yingli 240P-29b

Huanghe 190(36)M

Jinko Solar 235P-60

Jinko 190M-72

Conergy 235P

Seraphim 220-6PB

SolarWorld 225

SolarWorld 245

Trina Solar 180DC01

Trina Solar 225PC05

Yingli 260C (Panda)

Bosch M 60 230

Suntech 205-18/Ud

Evergreen 210-fc3

Sharp NU-185E1

Sovello X-205-fa1

Pe

rfo

rma

nc

e R

ati

o [

%]

Bottom line → high performance ratio!

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EFFICIENCY

PERFORMANCE

RELIABILITY

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SunPower extended testing for highest reliability

7xIEC

5xUL

12xISO

Basic industry certification

SunPower custom tests

Higher certification level

Highly Accelerated Life Tests (HALT)Design and manufacturing tests

Demonstration: Breaking Cell

SunPower cells are flexible – even when broken, they are still fully functional

Conventional cells are stiff and prone to shattering – once broken, become dead

SunPower Cell Conventional Cell

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Vertical integration: from silicon to systemSolar grade silicon

Ingot

Wafer

CellModule

Installation

Recycling

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SunPower Continues to Deliver in Warm, Humid Conditions while Conventional Panels Lose Power

0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 7000 800010%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Performance of SunPower and Top Tier Conventional Front Contact Modules in Damp Heat (85°C, 85% RH)

SunPower

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2

3

4

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6

7

Hours

Perf

orm

ance

Certification Standard

1000 hours

Sources: Front contact manufacturers in Fraunhofer ISE and TUV Rheinland tests; Koehl, Michael, et. al. “PV Reliability: Accelerated Aging Tests and Modeling of Degradation.” Presented at EUPVSEC, Valencia Spain, Sept 2010. *Added SunPower results for the same test run by SunPower

SunPower® Maxeon™ Cell

Technology

Conventional Front Contact Solar

• Thick plated copper is robust and withstands corrosion to deliver consistent power even in humid conditions

• Thin baked on metal corrodes easily resulting in broken connections that lead to power loss in humid conditions

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SunPower Stands Up to Temperature Variations while Conventional Panels Lose Power

0 500 1000 1500 2000 250075%

80%

85%

90%

95%

100%

Performance of SunPower and Conventional Front Contact Modules in Thermal Cycling (-40 to 85°C)

SunPower

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4

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Cycles

Perf

orm

ance

Certification Standard200 cycles

Sources: Front contact manufacturers in Fraunhofer ISE and TUV Rheinland tests; Koehl, Michael, et. al. “PV Reliability: Accelerated Aging Tests and Modeling of Degradation.” Presented at EUPVSEC, Valencia Spain, Sept 2010. *Added SunPower results for the same test run by SunPower

SunPower® Maxeon™ Cell

Technology

Conventional Front Contact Solar

• Thick, flexible copper contacts and built in strain relief withstands expansion and contraction caused by temperature swings resulting in consistent power

• Thin baked on metal and no strain relief result in broken connections due to temperature swings which lead to power loss

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CompetitorPower Loss = 2.1%

SunPowerPower Loss = 0%

Dynamic Load Test Results

Electroluminescence images of a front-contact module and SunPower back contact module after dynamic load HALT stress (1000 cycles of +/-2400 Pa, equivalent to

maximum wind load, of alternating pressure load on the glass)

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Combined 25-year power and product warranty !!!

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9,1% Additional

Power!

0% degradation for the first five years

0.4%/yr degradation rate for 20 years A 25 year old asset

producing 87% of original powerSunPower New Warranty

The new warranty reflects who we are

SunPower– Vertical integration (from ingot production to system installation)

– Partnered with TOTAL SA (the Fortune 11th company)

– Over 25 years of experience in Silicon Valley

Maxeon™ technology– The most powerful and reliable PV cells

– Less than 200 modules returned from over 6 million shipped

– Independent studies showing high performance and minimal degradation

SunPower Reliability Videos

Short videos demonstrating how the design of the Maxeon solar cells results in high modules reliability in various stressful environments.

Google “SunPower reliability” or visit SunPower channel on YouTube:

Humidity: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqqS1Exq2Hk

Thermal Cycling: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lTotfOgLWs

Loading: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zQ9dHR-uBg

Shading: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qVfge4J1aA

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EFFICIENCY

PERFORMANCE

RELIABILITY

© 2012 SunPower Corporation