In this article, we will discuss SunPower Solar Review 2023, M X U-Series solar panel Costs & Differences. Since 1985, SunPower has been a leader in the solar business and works to give customers a secure and dependable experience. The solar panel manufacturer and installer, situated in San Jose, California, currently provides services in all 50 states. The BBB rates SunPower with an A+, which is higher than the industry standard.
SunPower previously concentrated on the market for commercial solar energy systems, but it has recently increased its efforts in this area. This is wonderful news for homeowners because SunPower provides some of the industry’s greatest solar panels and energy-related services.
The Maxeon solar panels from SunPower are among the strongest and most reliable ones on the market. They are also the first solar panels in the world to be Cradle to Cradle Certified as safe, circular, and responsibly created goods.
SunPower has taken steps to strengthen its home services, and with a solid foundation in manufacturing and commercial solar, we anticipate great things. SunPower shows its commitment to growing its share of the home market by acquiring Blue Raven Solar in October 2021, a young firm with a reputation for exceptional customer service and cutting-edge financing alternatives.
SunPower Solar Review 2023, M X U-Series solar panel Costs & Differences
Key Points
- A leading provider of solar solutions, SunPower has its own range of premium home and business solar panels made by Maxeon Solar.
- The M-Series, X-Series, and U-Series (all manufactured by Maxeon) are the three residential solar panel lines that SunPower offers (made by other manufacturers).
- The efficiency and power ratings of SunPower’s Maxeon panels are among the best on the market.
- A SunPower solar system should cost at least $3.30 per watt, which works out to roughly $19,800 for the typical 6 kW system before incentives.
- Although SunPower is more expensive, it provides exceptional module quality and performance, a superior warranty, and a trustworthy dealer network.
SunPower Fast Facts
| Year Started | 1985 |
| Service Areas | Master Dealers are located in AZ, CA, CO, CT, FL, HI, IL, LA, MD, MA, MI, NV, NJ, NY, OR, TX, UT, and all 50 states. |
| Service Types | Customized solar panel systems that include backup battery installations and EV chargers |
| Types of Panels Sold | Own production of highly effective monocrystalline solar panels at SunPower. |
| Backup Battery Options | SunPower SunVault™ Storage system |
| Certifications | technicians certified by the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP), the Solar Energy Industries Association, and Cradle to Cradle Sustainability |
| Better Business Bureau (BBB) Rating | A+ with accreditation |
What products does SunPower provide?
There are three home solar panel lines offered by SunPower:
- M-Series
- X-Series
- U-Series
Along with selling residential models, SunPower also offers some of its panels for commercial use.
The Series A, X, and E solar panels from SunPower are also available in commercial configurations. The business also produces P Series panels for extensive commercial installations.
Each of these product lines has a different level of performance and aesthetic appeal, making them each more appropriate for particular purposes. Let’s examine it more closely.
In this article, we will discuss SunPower Solar Review 2023, M X U-Series solar panel Costs & Differences.
SunPower M-Series solar panel
The M-Series product line from SunPower has their newest and most potent solar panels. The M-Series panels, which are AC solar panels with built-in microinverters, are compatible with the SunPower Equinox system, a solar system consisting entirely of products bearing the SunPower brand.
Maxeon’s most recent solar cell, the Maxeon Gen 6, is used in the SunPower M-Series modules. The company’s record-breaking A Series panels used Gen 6 cells, which are bigger still. This makes the M-Series the most effective and potent household solar panel currently on the market.
The greatest homes for these panels are those with limited roof space for solar systems. You may install fewer M-Series panels and yet generate a lot of electricity because they have such high power output—between 420 and 440 Watts. These panels will most likely cost significantly more than the majority of other panels on the market right now because you can only utilise SunPower goods if you pick them.
SunPower M Series solar panel
| Wattage | 420 W – 440 W |
| Efficiency rating | 21.7% – 22.8% |
| Power tolerance | -0/+5% |
| Cell type | Monocrystalline Maxeon Gen 6 |
| Product warranty | 25 years |
| Performance warranty | 25 years; no more than 0.25% yearly degradation until Year 25; 98% power capacity after Year 1 |
SunPower X-Series solar panel
The SunPower X-Series panel’s power ratings are lower than the M-Series since it uses smaller SunPower Maxeon Gen III solar cells, but it can still accommodate the needs of the majority of households. Moreover, the X-Series versions can be purchased as AC or DC panels and have excellent efficiency ratings. The Cradle to Cradle Bronze Award, which acknowledges the X-Series as a sustainably built product, has been given to these solar panels for the first time.
The X-22s, the most recent X-Series modules, are only offered with white backsheets. But, if your installer still has any earlier X-Series panels in store, you might be able to select a white or black backsheet.
Because to its excellent efficiency ratings, the X-Series is another panel that is suitable for homeowners with small roof spaces.
SunPower X Series solar panel
| Wattage | 345 W – 370 W |
| Efficiency rating | 21.2% – 22.7% |
| Power tolerance | -0/+5% |
| Cell type | Monocrystalline Maxeon Gen III |
| Product warranty | 25 years |
| Performance warranty | 25 years; no more than 0.25% yearly degradation until Year 25; 98% power capacity after Year 1 |
SunPower U-Series panels
The U-Series panels are SunPower’s newest product line. They are protected by the company’s Full Confidence Guarantee because they are installed as a component of SunPower Equinox systems. The panels will therefore be covered by the same 25-year product and performance guarantees as other SunPower products.
The cost-effective choice from SunPower is the U-Series. Because the U-Series does not use Maxeon solar technology, the price is reduced in part. The manufacturer and the U-Series specifications are not provided by SunPower on their website. From what we’ve observed, it appears that Aptos or Waaree produce the U-Series panels and then apply SunPower’s name to them.
These two solutions don’t provide the extraordinary specifications for which SunPower is famous. Yet, because SunPower backs the panels, you can have confidence in them. Also, you can benefit from SunPower’s entire system warranty, which will spare you headaches if you ever experience issues.
In this article, we will discuss SunPower Solar Review 2023, M X U-Series solar panel Costs & Differences.
What are the prices of SunPower solar panels?
As a result of their exceptional quality, SunPower panels are also very expensive. With a cash purchase, you may anticipate paying a minimum of $3.30 per watt of SunPower solar panels that are installed (Solar systems purchased in cash often cost less per watt than those financed because broker fees are excluded.)
The typical cost of conventional panels for US homeowners is $3.00 per watt, so $3.30 per watt represents a premium. The lowest price you may anticipate is that, to reiterate. A more expensive price tag can result from choosing one of their high-end versions, such the 420 W M-Series.
Several variables, including your location, the panels you select, and the size of the system, will affect the final cost of a SunPower solar system. Before taking into account incentives, the costs for various-sized SunPower solar systems are shown in the following table:
Costs for SunPower solar systems vary by size
| System size | Cost before incentives |
|---|---|
| 4 kW | $12,520 |
| 6 kW | $19,800 |
| 8 kW | $26,400 |
| 10 kW | $33,000 |
| 12 kW | $39,600 |
The cost of a SunPower quote will increase if you finance the system, whether it be through a lease, loan, or PPA, it is also crucial to keep in mind. Several clients have mentioned receiving financing-included price quotes as high as $6.50 per watt.
What differences do SunPower solar panels have from other solar panels?
Power output rating
The capacity of a solar panel to create energy is indicated by its power output rating, which is also known as its watts.
The M-Series 440 W panel from SunPower offers the greatest power output rating of any residential solar panel available right now. Since the power rating is so high, you can use less solar panels to pay your electric bill.
The power ratings provided by the X-Series and maybe the U-Series panels are very conventional. The majority of panels currently produce between 370 and 400 W. Whatever SunPower product you select, it will be able to generate enough electricity to satisfy your demands.
Efficiency rating
A solar panel’s efficiency rating
shows the percentage of sunlight that hits the panel that is converted into energy. SunPower boasts some of the top efficiency ratings on the market, just as it does with power ratings.
SunPower is well recognised for its record-breaking efficiency ratings, and the M-Series holds the title of most efficient residential solar panel with a 22.7% efficiency rating. The efficiency rating is particularly significant for homes with limited rooftop area, but it is not the most critical feature to consider in general.
A reputable installation will install panels with an efficiency rating of at least 19%, which is more than enough for most residences. Most businesses claim high efficiency ratings in order to appear to have an advantage over the competition.
Superior efficiency scores usually come with a greater price tag. So you must determine whether having the most efficient solar panels on the market is worth the additional cost.
Power tolerance
Another important feature to consider when purchasing solar panels is power tolerance, which is sometimes disregarded. Solar panels have a rated power output, but the amount of electricity they produce might vary – even if the conditions remain constant.
This is when power tolerance comes into play. The power tolerance indicates how much a panel’s power output can vary even when the conditions stay constant.
Most solar panels have a power tolerance rating of -3% to +5%. What does this mean exactly? Under Standard Test Conditions, the -0 indicates that the panel will always perform at or near its rated capacity (STC). Under STC, the +5% means it might produce up to 5% more power.
The power tolerance rating of SunPower’s panels is -0/+5%, which is in line with industry norms.
Cell type
Monocrystalline solar cells are used in all of SunPower’s solar panels. Traditionally, the company has used high-quality Maxeon solar cells, which has given SunPower solar panels its premium performance standards. Maxeon solar cells are still available in M-Series and X-Series panels.
Although it is not expressly stated on SunPower’s website, the U-Series panels do not appear to utilise Maxeon solar cell technology. These are, however, monocrystalline solar cells that are expected to function less well than Maxeon solar cells but are nonetheless of high quality.
Product warranty
First, consider the product warranty. SunPower solar panels offer a 25-year product warranty, which means they will be free of material and workmanship defects as long as they are used as intended and properly installed.
Most solar panel manufacturers either provide a 12-year product warranty or require an additional registration procedure to access the 25-year warranty.
Performance warranty
The performance guarantee follows. Since solar panels deteriorate with time, the performance warranty gives you an idea of how your solar panels will perform as they get older.
In the first year, SunPower solar panels will operate at least 98% at their original rated capacity. For the following 24 years, the panels won’t decline more than 0.25 percent yearly.
The average industry-wide yearly degradation rate is 0.5%, which is half of this rate. (Lower is preferable.) As a result of SunPower panels’ slower rate of deterioration, they produce more energy over time than other solar panels. This warranty is among the greatest ones we’ve ever seen.
The SunPower Full Confidence Guarantee will cover the entire system, from the panels to the racking system, if you decide to install the SunPower Equinox complete system.
Should your home install SunPower solar panels?
SunPower solar panels are a great choice for roof installation, which is why SolarReview’s official solar panel review gave them an Elite score. SunPower’s extensive network consists of about 500 reputable solar installers, many of whom are among the best in the country. This implies that you will get top-notch panels, an excellent warranty, and top-notch installation.
But all those great things come at a heavy price. If money is tight, you might want to think about buying solar panels from some of our other top-ranked brands, like Qcells or Canadian Solar, which offer excellent quality at a somewhat reduced cost.
The majority of homes that install solar will experience lower electricity costs, regardless of whether they choose SunPower or other brands of panels. To determine whether solar panels are the correct investment for you, use our solar panel calculator to estimate the savings you could achieve by going solar.