Call 1-877-779-7496 or email affiliate.solar@sunpowercorp.com, and one of SunPower’s customer service representatives will qualify you for the rebate (up to $2,000) and assign you for a home solar audit. Be sure to mention the Facebook Friends and Family Offer and AET Solar as your Premier Dealer.

“This new world record demonstrates SunPower’s ability to extend our lead in manufacturing the world’s highest efficiency solar cells,” said Bill Mulligan, vice president of technology and development for SunPower. “Our patented and proprietary, high-efficiency solar cell technology drives down the cost of solar energy by increasing the energy production from each solar panel.”

Improved cell efficiency reduces the levelized cost of energy by increasing the energy production from each wafer manufactured into a SunPower solar cell. For the same reason, increased efficiency reduces the cost per watt and cost per kilowatt-hour for feedstock and materials, depreciation and other manufacturing expenses, installation time, land and system operations, and related maintenance.

“As we celebrate SunPower’s 25th anniversary this year, I am thrilled to see the company achieve technology milestones that were inconceivable only a few years ago,” said Richard Swanson, SunPower founder and chief technology officer. “SunPower’s research and development and engineering teams have increased cell efficiency by a full four percentage points over the last five years while radically driving down manufacturing costs. We are extremely proud of their continued success.”

SAN JOSE, Calif., June 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — At the IEEE Honors Ceremony in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, on Saturday, June 26, Richard Swanson, chief technical officer and co-founder of SunPower Corporation, was honored with the 2010 IEEE Jun-ichi Nishizawa Medal.  The medal, sponsored by the Federation of Electric Power Companies, Japan, and the Semiconductor Research Foundation, Japan, recognized Swanson for the conception and commercialization of high-efficiency point-contact crystalline-silicon solar cell technology.

Swanson is internationally recognized for both his research and industry accomplishments. His work has addressed critical aspects of photovoltaic technologies to overcome limitations that slowed the progress of concepts moving from the laboratory to the manufacturing environment.  His areas of research have investigated the semiconductor properties of silicon relevant for better understanding the operation of silicon solar cells, helping pave the way for steady improvement in silicon solar cell performance.

“When SunPower was founded 25 years ago, solar was little more than a concept,” said Swanson.  “Today, it is within reach of becoming main stream throughout much of the world, and it is highly gratifying to be a part of this energy revolution.  SunPower has contributed to the phenomenal growth of solar, and I have been fortunate to work with extraordinary engineers to deliver, what is today, the planet’s most powerful solar technology.  It is my extreme privilege to accept the 2010 IEEE Jun-ichi Nishizawa Medal.”

An IEEE Fellow and member of the National Academy of Engineering, Swanson holds 15 U.S. patents. Past awards include the IEEE William R. Cherry Award for outstanding contributions to the photovoltaic field, the Becquerel Prize for Outstanding Merits in Photovoltaics from the European Commission and, most recently, The Economist’s Energy and Environmental Award for 2009.

Solar power has grown at a compound annual growth rate of more than 50 percent since 2000 from less than 200 megawatts of global installations annually to more than 7,000 megawatts in 2009. Since Swanson founded SunPower in 1985, the company has successfully researched methods of increasing the efficiency of solar cells and, as a result, the company last week announced a new world-record, full-scale solar cell with a sunlight to electricity conversion efficiency of 24.2 percent.

About SunPower

Founded in 1985, SunPower Corp. (Nasdaq: SPWRA, SPWRB) designs, manufactures and delivers the planet’s most powerful solar technology broadly available today. Residential, business, government and utility customers rely on the company’s experience and proven results to maximize return on investment. With headquarters in San Jose, Calif., SunPower has offices in North America, Europe, Australia and Asia. For more information, visit www.sunpowercorp.com.

SOUTH BRUNSWICK, N.J. and SAN JOSE, Calif., June 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Dow Jones & Company and SunPower Corp. (Nasdaq: SPWRA, SPWRB) today announced that SunPower has been selected to install a high-efficiency solar power system totaling 4.1 megawatts at Dow Jones’ corporate offices in central New Jersey.

The system will include 3.6 megawatts of elevated solar panels above parking areas and a 522-kilowatt rooftop installation. When completed early next year, the system will be one of the nation’s largest solar power installations operating at a corporate site, and is expected to generate the equivalent of 15 percent of current electricity needs for Dow Jones’ South Brunswick campus.

“Renewable energy is part of a sustainable business plan for Dow Jones,” said Dean DelVecchio, the company’s chief information officer and chief administrative officer. “With solar energy, Dow Jones is helping the environment and its business at the same time.”

A publisher of news and business information around the globe, Dow Jones maintains a 200-acre campus on U.S. Route 1 in South Brunswick, N.J. Nearly 2,000 people work at the facility, Dow Jones’s largest.

At the site, SunPower is installing SunPower T5 Solar Roof Tile, the solar industry’s first non-penetrating rooftop product that combines a high-efficiency SunPower solar panel, frame and mounting system into a single pre-engineered unit. Tilted at a five-degree angle, the T5 Roof Tile system approximately doubles the energy generated per square meter compared with other systems that are mounted flat onto commercial rooftops.

“This solar system is one of many initiatives at Dow Jones intended to reduce waste, protect the environment and trim expenses. We will continue to seek smart solutions for the future of our business,” said Andy Schwartzberg, vice president for general administrative services at Dow Jones.

The system is being partially financed through PSE&G’s Solar Loan Program, through which PSE&G offers loans for solar power.

“SunPower offered turnkey design and installation services and high-efficiency solar technology to optimize the power generated by the system and the savings that Dow Jones will achieve on their electricity costs,” said Tom Leyden, managing director at SunPower. “We applaud their leadership in taking advantage of PSE&G’s Solar Loan Program. Clean, reliable solar power makes good sense today for businesses and our environment.”

About Dow Jones & Company

Dow Jones & Company (www.dowjones.com) is a News Corporation company (Nasdaq: NWS, NWSA; ASX: NWS, NWSLV; www.newscorp.com) and a leading provider of global news and business information. Its principal products include The Wall Street Journal, Dow Jones Newswires, Dow Jones Factiva, Barron’s and MarketWatch. Through its Local Media Group, Dow Jones operates community-based newspapers and Web sites. Dow Jones also provides news content to television and radio stations.

About SunPower

Founded in 1985, SunPower Corp. (Nasdaq: SPWRA, SPWRB) designs, manufactures and delivers the planet’s most powerful solar technology broadly available today. Residential, business, government and utility customers rely on the company’s experience and proven results to maximize return on investment. With headquarters in San Jose, Calif., SunPower has offices in North America, Europe, Australia and Asia. For more information, visit www.sunpowercorp.com.

SunPower’s Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are statements that do not represent historical facts and may be based on underlying assumptions. The company uses words and phrases such as “will” and “expected” to identify forward-looking statements in this press release, including forward-looking statements regarding:  (a) construction schedule; (b) power generation; (c) customer savings; and (d) environmental benefits. Such forward-looking statements are based on information available to the company as of the date of this release and involve a number of risks and uncertainties, some beyond the company’s control, that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by these forward-looking statements, including risks and uncertainties such as:  (i) unanticipated construction difficulties or potential delays in the project implementation process, including securing necessary permits, licenses or other governmental approvals; (ii) the risk of continuation of supply of products and components from suppliers; (iii) unanticipated problems with deploying the system on the sites; (iv) actual electricity generation; (v) the actual energy consumption rate; (vi) unexpected changes in utility service rates; (vii) variations in carbon dioxide emissions reductions; and (viii) other risks described in the company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 3, 2010, and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the company’s views as of any subsequent date, and the company is under no obligation to, and expressly disclaims any responsibility to, update or alter its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

SunPower is a registered trademark of SunPower Corp.  All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

SOURCE SunPower Corp.

Back to top RELATED LINKS
http://www.sunpowercorp.com
http://www.dowjones.com
http://www.newscorp.com

OF SUN-TRACKING SOLAR PANELS ON JUNE 3 

Tecate Mission International, a well-known outreach ministry on the U.S. side of the Tecate border crossing, will celebrate the installation of an energy-saving array of nine racks of sun-tracking solar panels with a “Solar Energy Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony” at 3 pm on Thursday, June 3.   

Civic and government dignitaries from both sides of the border are expected to attend, along with officials of rural fire departments and local business leaders. The public is invited to the event, which will feature music and refreshments. Representatives of AET Solar will be on hand to explain how the system works and answer any questions on how solar systems can reduce monthly utility bills. 
 
“Compared to fixed mounting systems, these tracking systems are able to follow the sun throughout the day, turning the panels from east to west, and providing as much as 30% more savings than fixed arrays,” said Bob Carson, president of AET Solar of Santee, which installed the system.  

The sun’s heat moves liquid from side to side, allowing gravity to turn the Track Rack™ and follow the sun.  “No motors, no gears and no controls to fail,” Carson emphasized. 

Dan Bender, director of ministry development at the Tecate Mission, offers this invitation: “We’ve been a proud part of this community since 1962, so come help us celebrate as we publicly declare the value of stewardship by conserving the resources that God has given us.” 

A total of 108 panels are mounted on the nine racks.  Three solar trackers with 36 panels are installed near the upper campus just off Highway 188 that links Highway 94 to the Tecate border crossing.  Six trackers with 72 panels are installed on a lower parcel just yards away from the international border.  

The panels are produced by SunPower Corp., one of the world’s largest manufacturers of solar panels. The tracking system structure is manufactured by Zomeworks Corp. of Albuquerque, NM.  AET Solar, a premier dealer in San Diego County for SunPower products, installed the system at Tecate.    
 
 
The arrays are mounted on 18-foot long masts, six feet into the ground and 12 feet above ground.  The arrays are installed at the top of the masts and are 12 feet tall, making the top of the array 18 feet off the ground. 

Although the state of California has not set up a system to rate sun-trackers, SDG&E has estimated the sun-tracking system at the Tecate Mission will generate 30% more energy than would flat fixed panels, according to Kim Carson, AET Solar general manager and son of the owner.  

He calculates the total output of the nine arrays will generate a minimum of 154 kilowatts of power per day.  

“It is a 28 kilowatt system, and based on an standard rating system average of 5.5 sun hours a day, the yield is 154 kilowatts,” he said.  “Of course, we are positive the Tecate Mission arrays will beat that substantially by being exposed to an average of 8 to 10 hours of sun a day.”  

In just the first 23 days of operation, the system has generated 5,416 kilowatt hours.  “This kind of output should provide a 100-percent offset and completely abate the mission’s electical bill,” Carson said. 

“We feel good about this project,” he added.  “The mission is putting the money their donors have contributed to use that will pay long-term dividends.  It’s good stewardship.” 

Tecate Mission International is located at 23945 Tecate Mission Road in Tecate, California.  Facilities include Tecate Christian School and mission offices. 

 
For more information about Tecate Mission, go to www.tecatemission.org

  
For more information about AET Solar, go to www.AETsunpower.com

  
For more information about SunPower, go www.sunpower.com  

                                    ### 
 
 

BENEFITS OF SUNPOWER SOLAR PANELS

Highest Efficiency

SunPower^TM Solar Panels are the most efficient photovoltaic panels on the market today.

More Power

Our panels produce more power in the same amount of space—up to 50% more than conventional designs and 100% more than thin film solar panels.

Reduced Installation Cost

More power per panel means fewer panels per install. This saves both time and money.

Reliable and Robust Design

Proven materials, tempered front glass, and a sturdy anodized frame allow panel to operate reliably in multiple mounting configurations. 

Residential

Backed by our 25-year warranty, SunPower’s installed solar panels promise lasting value and peace of mind for your San Diego solar home. 

Commercial

Designed specifically for use in grid-connected application such as San Diego commercial rooftops and powerplants, SunPower commercial solar panels combine the industry’s highest efficiency solar cells with innovative design.

“Solar Energy Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony”

Thursday, June 3, 2010 at 3 PM

Tecate Mission International – Click here to view photos of this project

23945 Tecate Mission Road

Tecate, California  91980-1000

(on the upper campus located just off Highway 188)

We’ve been a proud part of this community since 1962, so come and help us celebrate. There will

be a chance to meet some local representatives and we’ll have music and refreshments as we publicly

declare the value of stewardship by conserving the resources that God has given to us.

For more information:    Dan Bender – 619.851.7451 / danbender@aol.com

Willa Edmonds – 619.468.3355 / willa@tecatemission.org

Click here to download the EVENT DOC Flyer

Swanson figured out how to improve the capture of electrons in solar cells. Solar cells usually contain two thin layers of metal with a sliver of polycrystalline silicon inside. But polycrystalline silicon is in short supply worldwide. Swanson discovered that the metal foil on the top layer of a solar cell reflected some photons before they had a chance to hit the silicon layer. He put both layers of metal on the bottom of the cell, creating greater efficiencies and less need for polysilicon. The result: solar cell “wafers” that are thinner and less expensive to produce.

SunPower designs and manufactures high-performance solar electric systems for residential, commercial and utility-scale power plant customers around the world. Its solar cells and solar panels currently generate up to 50 percent more power than other solar technologies. In 2009, SunPower announced that its latest solar panel for the residential and commercial markets offers a conversion efficiency (a measurement of the amount of sunlight converted by the solar cell into electricity) of 19.3 percent, the highest for a commercially available, mass produced solar panel. The U.S. Department of Energy’s established a goal of is conversion efficiency 20% by the year 2020.

SunPower had revenue of US$1.4 billion in fiscal 2008, compared to US$775 million in fiscal 2007 and US$237 million in fiscal 2006. SunPower acquired PowerLight Corp., a large-scale solar power systems provider, in January 2007 for US$333 million, becoming a producer of energy, as well as energy-production technology. In 2008, this business segment, known as SP Systems, began serving the utility market in the United States. New business includes an agreement with Florida Power & Light Company to design and build two solar photovoltaic power plants, and another with Pacific Gas and Electric Company to design and build a 250 megawatt solar power plant in California.

According to Clean Edge, solar photovoltaics (including modules, system components, and installation) will grow from a US$29.6 billion industry in 2008 to US$80.6 billion by 2018. Annual installations reached more than 4 GW worldwide in 2008, up from 1 GW in 2004. Solar power has grown an average of 40 percent per year since the beginning of the decade, with global solar installations expanding from 600 megawatts in 2003 to nearly 3000 megawatts in 2008.

Written by: http://www.economistconferences.co.uk/innovation/energyenvironmentaward