SunPower announced on February 29th that its SunPower® Helix™ Roof product, the world's first fully-integrated rooftop solar solution for commercial customers, can be installed at least two and a half times faster than competing commercial rooftop solar power systems currently available. As measured by DNV GL, a global independent energy expert and certification body, the SunPower Helix Roof ST product is installed at more than 33 panels per installer hour. Leading competitive commercial rooftop systems have publicly reported maximum install speeds of 12 to 13 panels per installer hour.
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"The SunPower Helix Roof product delivers value through innovation, benefiting our commercial customers with an exclusive combination of the most efficient solar panels installed at world record speed," said Howard Wenger, SunPower president, business units. "For businesses and organizations choosing SunPower Helix systems, installation time that is two and a half times faster means less business disruption and the opportunity to fast track cost savings and sustainability goals."
One key feature of the SunPower Helix platform that significantly reduces installation time while enhancing reliability, is a plug-and-play power station – the only one available in the U.S. commercial solar market – that eliminates the need to strip and land wires on site. The Helix Roof system requires 67 percent fewer field connections compared to conventional commercial rooftop systems.
DNV GL conducted a Mounting System Installation Efficiency Test in December 2015 on a 21.6-kilowatt (DC) rooftop system composed of 66 high efficiency SunPower solar panels. The 3-person team of solar installers had no previous experience installing a Helix system.
"With standardized Helix components, we have eliminated the inefficiencies and added costs of complex system design," added Wenger. "Helix makes the complex simple, allowing our commercial and public agency customers to easily and intelligently manage their energy use and costs and maximize solar power production over the long-term."