Sunpower :( is there any other compareable panels /cells ?

[goldhunter_2]

Well I took interest in the Sunpower X21 and X24 series solar panels , Unfortunately Sunpower doesn't want people to buy there newest solar panels I was told they ONLY sell to their dealers and I would have to purchase a complete system or nothing , they also do not sell to any other wholesales that resell the solar panels or so I was told by sunpower
Now with that said, I like the theory of the more efficient maxeon solar cells that have a solid copper backing instead of the thin wire found on common mono & poly panels So does anyone know of another company that make a similar solar panel to sunpowers X series high efficiency panels and that would be willing to sell to individuals ?

[Naptown]

Boeing makes a 45% if I remember
But if you think Sunpower is expensive and hard to come by.

[goldhunter_2]

ya I didn't even get to the expensive part, sunpower just said flat out that they would not sell to a individual I would like something that is available if that other company is harder to come by I am not even going to look them up

[Naptown]

AFAIK Suniva would be next up @16%

[bonaire]

Only real reason to go high efficiency is if you don't have a lot of space to work with. Like a small townhouse roof or home roof with limited space. A solar farm wouldn't use sunpower modules but rather would use the cheapest modules per watt possible for the space given. Somewhere in between are dozens of mid-efficiency modules of varying quality levels.

I had heard that MoTech had a new LEO panel out last year up in the similar 16% range. To be built in the Delaware plant. Did that ever come out?

[goldhunter_2]

I remember reading somewhere about Motech buying a plant up there but didn't see anymore new reports on it

14% to 16% seems to be pretty common , My pools solar panels take up a large part of my southern roof except for the lanai which I don't think would support the weight or wind load of 30 conventional solar panels . I had looked at some thin film for that but decided to go with the panel in the first phase of purchasing.

I guess I was just trying to get the most efficiency for the space I have , it really didn't sink in my mind until I was using the SMA design software and see there recommending 7500 watts of panels to feed a 6000 watt inverter for those panels and inverter combo so I was trying to look for more effective panels and compare price before I comment to the order on these others

[Naptown]

Only real reason to go high efficiency is if you don't have a lot of space to work with. Like a small townhouse roof or home roof with limited space. A solar farm wouldn't use sunpower modules but rather would use the cheapest modules per watt possible for the space given. Somewhere in between are dozens of mid-efficiency modules of varying quality levels.

I had heard that MoTech had a new LEO panel out last year up in the similar 16% range. To be built in the Delaware plant. Did that ever come out?

Actually Google Warren Buffett, JNJ Microsoft, etc and see who's panels they are using

[bonaire]

Actually Google Warren Buffett, JNJ Microsoft, etc and see who's panels they are using

Not sure what to google. Sunpower? I'd bet warren Buffett would have first invested in the company then loaded up on their product. He's heavily into BYD cars in China as well. Sunpower is good stuff but not everyone should buy them.

[Naptown]

Not sure what to google. Sunpower? I'd bet warren Buffett would have first invested in the company then loaded up on their product. He's heavily into BYD cars in China as well. Sunpower is good stuff but not everyone should buy them.

Well Warren just bought a 2.5 billion dollar solar farm from them.

[goldhunter_2]

must be nice to have that large 2.5 million dollar budget to spend ...lol


Sanyo has a 21% panel as well but they are pricey considering space issues along with price it's still hard to justify in my mind at least buying one 240 watt panel instead of three perlight 280 watt for the same money.

[Naptown]

must be nice to have that large 2.5 million dollar budget to spend ...lol


Sanyo has a 21% panel as well but they are pricey considering space issues along with price it's still hard to justify in my mind at least buying one 240 watt panel instead of three perlight 280 watt for the same money.

But Sanyo has left the business sold to Panasonic.
further read a bit more on the Sanyo modules. they only get that with the bifacial panel and only if there is backlighting. Second that effficiency comes with reduced warranty and is a hybrid of hard silicon and amorphous film.

[Hyacinth]

Another appealing aspect of Sunpower is that it's a local company.

[SoCalsolar]

Just in case there are some who still think solar farms don't use SP

Just in case there are some out there who still think solar farms don't use SP and buy the cheapest thing they can find.

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sunpower-and-southern-california-edison-sign-contracts-for-711-megawatts-of-solar-power-113194464.html

Yes quality matters and those who know and plan and pay people to research it, go with quality.

[goldhunter_2]

Hyacinth
I guess that depends on what you consider local , they mite be a great company but don't want to deal with the little people was the opinion I got form them and there isn't much other choice but I a looking

[goldhunter_2]

SoCalsolar,
I wish I had the kind of money to spend that ya'll are looking at for solar farms artciles but I just don't, so with that said budget has to be a big consideration for me though I would still carefully consider spending more money on noticeably better quality panel but as stated earlier sunpower will not sell panel to me I have already asked them.