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How do SunPower Performance solar panels differ from Conventional Panels?
There are a variety of key technical differences between SunPower Performance solar panels and Conventional Panels, including the design and layout of the solar cells and the electric architecture—which combine to enhance the reliability, performance and aesthetics of Performance panels.
To go into a bit more technical detail, first, we laser cut each SunPower Performance cell into strips and layer them in a shingled configuration to create a ‘hypercell’. This shingled hypercell allows us to fit more active cell area into each panel, boosting power and efficiency. Second, Performance cells are connected with a flexible joint interconnection to offer multiple and redundant paths for energy flow. This allows us to remove the front contact conductive ribbons and solder bonds found in conventional cells that can block active cell area and deteriorate over time, leading to cell failures and power deficits. Finally, SunPower Performance panels feature a unique parallel circuit architecture that significantly limits power loss in shade and soiling. The result is a superior shingled panel constructed with commodity cells, outperforming conventional panels in efficiency, performance and reliability.
How do SunPower Performance solar panels differ from SunPower® Maxeon® panel technology?
SunPower® Performance solar panels use high efficiency mono PERC cells, as opposed to SunPower's proprietary back contact technology developed for our Maxeon panels.
How do solar systems work?
A photovoltaic (PV) solar system is comprised of solar panels, racks for placing the panels on your roof, electrical wiring and an inverter. From sunrise to sunset, the solar panels generate electricity (DC) which is sent to an inverter. The inverter converts the DC electricity into alternating current (AC), which is the type of electricity required for household use. The AC power is delivered directly to your home’s main electrical service panel for use by you and your family.
What is a Microinverter?
A microinverter is a small electronic device that sits beneath each solar panel. It’s main task is to convert direct current (DC) from your solar panels into alternating current (AC) electricity that you can use in your home or export to the grid.
How is using multiple microinverters more reliable than using one string inverter?
With a string inverter there is a single point of failure. If the string inverter fails, the entire array is offline. However, with a microinverter each individual PV module has its own dedicated inverter. If the microinverter (or the associated PV module) should fail. only that PV module is offline while the remainder of the system continues to operate. Enphase microinverters have a publicly stated defect rate of 0.05%, which equates to 1 in 2000. Given that the Enphase defect rate is better than most string inverters, this results in a PV installation with higher reliability and a higher overall system uptime over the life of the array.
Additionally, Enphase microinverters have an estimated useful life of more than 25 years, compared with string inverters that typically last around 10 years.
If one panel fails, does the rest of the system continue to produce energy?
If the microinverter (or the associated PV module) should fail, only that PV module is offline. The remainder of the system continues to operate as normal – a key benefit of AC modules.