SunPower Corp. (NASDAQ: SPWRA, SPWRB), a Silicon Valley manufacturer of high-efficiency solar cells, solar panels and solar systems, announced that Akuo Solar, a subsidiary of Paris-based Akuo Energy, has ordered 75,000 high efficiency SunPower solar panels for Akuo's planned 24-megawatt solar development. The development consists of two power plants that will be located in the Provence-Alps-Cotes d'Azur Region in the South of France.
The SunPower™ E19/320 watt high efficiency solar panels will be integrated into fixed-tilt, ground mounted systems for both power plants. Construction has begun and is expected to be completed before the end of 2011. When combined, the solar power plants are expected to generate about 36 gigawatt hours of electricity annually.
"We have partnered with SunPower in the past and are pleased to work with them again on this project," said Romain Forest, managing director at Akuo Solar. "With 1.7 gigawatts of solar deployed worldwide, SunPower's proven track record in terms of panel performance and reliability will allow us to maximize the amount of installed peak power while using less land, and also contribute to the environment with an annual carbon footprint reduction."
"SunPower delivers the highest efficiency, most reliable solar panels on the market today, which makes us ideally suited for Akuo's new development in the South of France," said Howard Wenger, president of SunPower's utility and power plants business group. "Large projects with top tier companies such as Akuo will continue to position SunPower as a global leader for residential, commercial and power plant markets."
Akuo Energy is a French independent power producer specializing in developing, financing and operating power plants from renewable resources and has partnered to date with SunPower on projects exceeding 30 megawatts. Akuo Energy has offices in Continental France, Corsica, Italy, Uruguay, Turkey, Reunion Island, French Caribean Islands, Poland, Croatia, Bulgaria, Morocco and the U.S.