SunPower Corp. (Nasdaq: SPWRA, SPWRB) today announced the latest version of the SunPower 315 Solar Panel range.
The company claims the SunPower 315 to be the world’s most powerful monocrystalline solar panel for residential and commercial markets, boasting 96-cells, 315-watt output and the industry’s highest conversion efficiency of 19.3 percent.
The most common solar panels used in home solar power systems in Australia currently are around the 170 – 180 watt mark; with a conversion efficiency of between 13% and 16%.
Monocrystalline solar panels are generally favoured for residential grid connect as they have a smaller size and higher conversion efficiencies compared to equivalent wattage outputs of thin film and polycrystalline solar panels. The smaller footprint makes better use of valuable north facing rooftop real estate and allows for more panels to be added at a later date.
The SunPower 315 Solar Panel now incorporates anti-reflective coated glass and large all-black contact solar cells. The anti-reflective coating allows for more diffuse light to be captured at angles less than optimum, which results in more energy generated per rated watt than a conventional solar panel. The coating and the larger cells result lend the panel a darker, more aesthetically pleasing appearance.
At this point, the SunPower 315 Solar Panel will only be available for residential and commercial customers in Europe and North America beginning July 2009. Information about availability in Australia is yet to be released.
