SunPower solar panel

SunPower has been a leading solar panel brand in terms of efficiency and electrical performance for some time now.

Initially, the panels were made in America. However, in recent years, many cost-cutting measures have led to their production being moved to Mexico and Malaysia. One of the big differences between SunPower and other solar cell manufacturers is that they hold patents for their IBC solar cells. IBC cells are currently the most efficient solar cells in mass production, which could lead to increased efficiency and effectiveness. your company’s income.

In 2020, parent company SunPower split into 2 new companies: SunPower (which will continue to sell solar panels and energy storage systems) and Maxeon Solar Technologies (which will sell solar panels). However, the separation raised even more questions. Who will actually own this solar technology now? And will SunPower sell other companies’ panels to make their systems more affordable to the customer?

The reason for the separation is to allow each company to play to its strengths, but a skeptical person might say that the real reason is that the manufacturing side of the business is not profitable. It faces increasing competition from other Tier 1 solar panel manufacturers that provide solar panels with the same efficiency as Maxeon/SunPower but at a much lower cost. Maxeon is said to have licensed its technology to a subsidiary that will focus on developing the production of battery cells whose USP is the highest energy density.

As an analyst for the SunPower and Maxeon brands, I am concerned about the unclear contractual relationship between SunPower and Maxeon. As a standalone public company, Maxeon is losing money. One of the reasons for the downgrade is that we are worried about a sustainable rate of return. Their panels are still great (although not as good in recent years) and we’re not sure if the 25 year warranty is on them or another company.