Rigid Marine Grade Solar Panels with SunPower, HJT and PERC Cells
The ideal marine solar panel must be highly efficient (maximum output per surface area) and robust enough to withstand the harsh marine environment. We offer various sizes and types of solar panels to meet the unique needs of our customers. For the cruising boat with modest power requirements, we recommend our 110. 140 watt panels and for the cruising boat with greater power requirements we recommend our 140. 290 watt panels. These panels are excellent for mounting on a pole, a rigid deck top or a bimini frame.
Our new 290 watt rectangular panel (57 x 36 inches) is ideal for mounting on dinghy davits, arch or rigid deck. All CMP (Custom Marine Products) solar panels are high quality, high output Class A marine grade and backed with a 5 year manufacturers and CMP warranty.
Our rigid glass monocrystalline solar panels using premium SunPower solar cells and PERC solar cells are some of the most efficient panels available at up to 24% efficiency. These marine grade solar panels will perform extremely well in both full and partial sun as well as at low sun angles in the morning and late afternoon. They are built to withstand the harsh marine environment specifically for boats. When integrated with our Tracer BN, Xtra-N MPPT, DuoRacer of Victron controller, this combination provides the highest output per sq. inch of most any system available.
High Performance CMP Marine Solar Panel Specifications Summary
Our SunPower Maxeon Series solar panels are made with SunPower Maxeon Gen III solar cells which have the highest energy yield (power output) of any solar cell commercially available. SunPower Maxeon cell technology uses a back contact design which maximizes the sunlight energy available to each solar cell and enables a sunlight to electric conversion efficiency of up to 24%.
PERC. HJT Series (~25% less cost, ~1.5% less efficient)
PERC ( Passivated Emitter and Rear Contact) cells are about 1.5% less efficient than Sunpower cells and cost about 25% less. These modified conventional cells produce 6 to 12 percent more energy than conventional monocrystalline solar cells. Premium PERC solar cells have an extra layer within the back side of the cell. This allows some of the sun’s rays to reflect back into the solar cell, increasing the amount of energy produced resulting in a conversion efficiency of up to 22.5%. This enables us to provide the same high quality at a lower price per watt.
Note we now carry rigid 420 watt 24% efficient marine solar panels that measure 39×78.5×1.6 for 450,279 each.
Does SunPower Make Good Solar Panels?
Yes, SunPower’s panels are widely considered the best in the industry for several reasons. They come at a high cost per watt, but they also deliver some of the most impressive performance specifications available.
Some noteworthy specs include:
- An industry-leading efficiency of 22.8%, compared to an average closer to 20%. This means greater production and higher overall energy savings for you.
- A below-average efficiency degradation of just 8% over 25 years, compared to an industry average closer to 12%. This means your panels will continue to outperform models from other manufacturers.
- A below-average temperature coefficient of.0.27% per degree (C), compared to an industry average of.0.35%. This means better performance in extreme temperatures.
- A positive-only power tolerance of.0%/5%, compared to an industry average of.5%/5%. This means your panels will never dip below their expected production, ultimately saving you more on electric bills in the long run.
In our opinion, the cost is well worth it, especially since the superior performance is likely to save you more on utility bills and pay for itself over time.
SunPower Maxeon Solar Panels
SunPower used to have a few different series of panels available, including the X Series panels, the A Series panels and the M Series panels. Since it split operations and pushed manufacturing to its sister company, Maxeon, it now offers two options, one of which is the Maxeon line.
The Maxeon line from SunPower—which includes the Maxeon 3 and Maxeon 6 panels—is the high-performance model available from the manufacturer. It comes in multiple sizes and different wattages, ranging from 420 watts up to 440 watts. You’ll get the highest efficiency rating of any solar panel in the industry at 22.8% if you opt for the 440-watt variety.
The peak efficiency is achieved, in part, by using a unique solar cell foundation that helps recuperate energy that normally would be lost to the environment. The solid copper foundation also helps improve durability, which allows SunPower to provide a warranty that’s nearly twice as long as the industry average.
These panels are all black, super sleek, and don’t have any visible grid lines. Since many homeowners care about the appearance of the panels on their roofs, this is another positive attribute of these PV panels.
SunPower Performance Solar Panels
The Performance line from SunPower—which includes the Performance 3 and the Performance 6 panels—is a slightly more affordable but less capable line of photovoltaic (PV) modules. These panels range from 370 watts up to 415 watts, with a peak efficiency of 21.1%, which is still above the industry average.
The Performance line of panels doesn’t use the solid copper foundation that the Maxeon line is best known for. Instead, it uses a traditional silicon and metal fiber foundation in its monocrystalline PERC solar cells. PERC (passivated emitter and rear contact) is a term used for advanced solar technology that is designed to boost performance by reducing the amount of sunlight lost by the panel.
While PERC technology isn’t unique to SunPower, the “hypercell” these panels use is. We’ll explain this tech in greater detail in the next section, but for now, just know that it helps boost durability and performance in all situations.
What Technology Does SunPower Use In Its Solar Panels?
SunPower panels are known for their industry-leading specifications, and there are two innovative technological advances the company has made that lend themselves to such high performance.
Solid Copper Foundation
Most notably, the panels in the Maxeon series are made with a new manufacturing technique using solid copper as a foundation rather than a baked sheet of silicon and metal shards. The solid foundation helps boost solar energy absorption, increasing panel efficiency.
The innovative solid copper backing also improves the durability of the PV cells. The M-Series is, as of this writing, the only panel in the industry to use this manufacturing technique.
Hypercell Technology
SunPower also uses “hypercell” technology in its Performance series. It’s manufactured by layering six strips of a solar cell in a shingle formation and connecting them with an adhesive that’s designed to flex.
The flexibility improves durability and reduces the risk of damage, even with excessive temperature swings. SunPower released a short video about how this technology works and why it’s superior to the traditional manufacturing method. You can watch that below:
Overall, the technology SunPower uses is superior to anything else we’ve seen from manufacturers. The tech speaks for itself, too, as SunPower’s efficiency ratings, temperature coefficients, warranty coverage options and degradation rates are some of the most advanced in the industry.
How Do SunPower Solar Panels Perform in Different Climates?
SunPower solar panels outperform most other panels we’ve reviewed in both hot and cold climates.
Solar panels lose efficiency in hotter temperatures due to excited electrons escaping the PV cells. At present, this is unavoidable, but some companies have made advancements that help boost PV performance in high temperatures.
The metric used to explain solar module performance in the heat is called temperature coefficient, which is the percentage of the panel’s efficiency that is lost for every degree above 25 degrees (C) or around 77 degrees (F). The higher the temperature coefficient, the less efficient the panel will be in hotter climates.
SunPower has one of the lowest temperature coefficients on the market at just 0.27%. The only other panel we’ve seen below 0.3% comes from Panasonic. Ultimately, that means SunPower panels will lose less solar energy in hot temperatures, boosting performance and production.
In colder climates, solar panels tend to get more efficient due to fewer excited electrons escaping the cells. SunPower’s above-average efficiency rating helps boost production in the cold as well.
Watch Below: See Why SunPower Solar Panels Can Perform Well in the Shade
Sunpower Solar Panels Review | #1 Residential Solar Panel?
When it comes to residential solar panels, Sunpower solar panels have been on top of the consumer choice list. Sunpower solar panels have been called the most efficient and worthy rooftop solar panels, but what makes them special? Many aspects of SunPower solar make them stand out from the crowd but in this SunPower solar panels review, let us dig deep into their technology and solar modules.
SunPower Solar Panels- How it All Started
Early in the ‘80s, SunPower embarked on an unofficial mission. It all started in a lab where they experimented with various solar panel technologies before launching as SunPower- the brand, in 1988. The RD team’s initial financial acquisition allowed for the formal excursion to take place.
After then, there was no looking back since they collaborated with Honda, the legend of a brand, to build record-breaking PV (photovoltaic) cells utilizing cutting-edge cell technology and went on to win the world solar challenge automobile race, which established them as renowned pioneers of the renewable energy sector.
Over a 25-year period, their presence can be seen in a multitude of NASA programs as well as other aircraft projects. San Jose, California, is where SunPower’s corporate offices are located.
They also have the designation of Bloomberg Tier 1 ranking, which is a sign of the company’s financial soundness rather not necessarily of the high calibre of its panel. If this label is current, it implies that the company is a well-known major manufacturer that has successfully served clients on a worldwide scale for a long time.
About SunPower Solar Cell Technology
On the basis of pure tech advancements, there is no denying SunPower research and development team has been doing the most with the utmost quality assurance. 22.8% panel efficiency is the best in the market and undefeated so far, and that, paired with 420W panels, seems like a match made in heaven. Not only that, their cell technology of Maxeon cells, IBC cells and shingled cells are spectacular.
Let’s get to know them in brief-
Maxeon Cell Technology
Everything is held together by a strong foundation of tin-plated copper on the back of the solar cells. To make their solar panels even more effective, they employ the purest silicon that is created exclusively for solar panels. The Maxeon cells absorb sunlight with their distinctive light-trapping surface, which is also anti-reflective.
The metal gridline that was attached to the front of the solar panels was removed. Because of this, Maxeon cells have fewer shading issues and have a very posh appearance when installed on a rooftop. As said before, they are powered by a solid copper backing, and each cell is joined to the next by thick connectors called strain relievers. These are not always affected by heat; as you know, metal expands in extreme heat.
Maxeon solar cell technology has nearly eradicated the shattering and rusting problem, which historically prevents many solar cells from operating to their full potential. They have a special design that eliminates 85% of the problems that cause conventional cells to fail. SunPower may cost a bit more upfront, but you will enjoy the rewards in the long term.
IBC Solar Cells
IBC, or interdigitated back contact, is a form of solar cell that, in contrast to conventional solar cells, converts energy from the cell’s forward contact to the rear contact. In contrast to conventional solar cells, this technique enables the whole front portion of the solar cell to function as a vessel for absorbing sunlight without wasting even a single inch of space.
One of the main reasons for efficiency loss is shading issues, which are caused by exposure to heat with metal gridlines. SunPower unveiled their market-leading IBC cell technology to completely eliminate this.
Shingled Cells
Just like rooftop shingles, these cell types work in a similar manner. They are laid in shingles that eliminate the need for busbars that accumulate space unnecessarily. area of the roof is covered with the use of shingled cells that allows more PV cell space to actually work on generating renewable energy. Electrically Conductive Adhesive, or (ECA) is used to stick all the solar cells together while keeping them working.
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