At the PV Japan 2014 conference, SunPower Corporation announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to supply Nangoku Corporation with 29-MWDC of the high efficiency E20/327 Solar Panel by SunPower Corporation. Nangoku will build a utility-scale PV plant in the Hioki, Kagoshima prefecture on the Island of Kyushu.
Nangoku serves as one of the largest, general trading companies in the Kyushu area and currently has 12 MW of solar in operation and 150-200 MW planned. Masanori Fukui, executive officer for Nangoku, stated: "Our mega solar (utility-scale) power plant will be built on a hilly region of Hioki with limited space, so we need to install the most efficient solar panels available." They chose SunPower’s high-efficiency E20/327 solar panel so that they can install more MWs in the constrained area while minimizing manpower costs and maximizing profits with higher energy output.
Integrated into SunPower ‘s E20/327 Solar Panels by are its patented Maxeon® all-back contact solar cells. These cells are built on a solid copper foundation, making them resistant to cracking, corrosion and stresses from temperature variation. With an average efficiency of 20.1%, the E20/327 panels deliver more power in the same amount of space and maximize system output with fewer panels installed.
The E20/327 Solar Panel is backed by the SunPower’s straightforward 25-year combined product and power warranty, which is 15 to 20 years longer than most product warranties. It offers the industry's lowest power degradation with more warranted energy, resulting in an unprecedented 87% power level at the end of 25 years. Solar products by SunPower Corporation are branded in Japan under the Maxeon Solar™ name. The company will be exhibiting at PV Japan 2014 this week at the Tokyo Big Site in Stand #P1-066.