New rooftop panel line promises high efficiency and “cradle to cradle” sustainability

Singaporean solar manufacturer Maxeon Solar Technologies has launched a new line of rooftop solar panels for homes and businesses that feature a unique cell design and circuitry and are “cradle to cradle” certified.

Maxeon’s new SunPower Performance 7 solar panels feature the latest generation of the company’s patented TOPCon cell technology in a shingled-cell design, offering increased power, efficiency, reliability, and aesthetics.

The solar panels – which the company says are immediately available to residential and commercial customers in the APAC region – have also been engineered for more effective shade management, mitigation of hotspots, and cooler cell temperatures.

With a rated output of between 440W and 455W, the SunPower Performance 7 panels offer bifaciality of 80% (plus or minus 10%) and an efficiency around the 22% mark, depending on which of the four options is chosen (ranging from 21.7% to 22.4%).

“Maxeon has built a strong patent portfolio over nearly four decades of innovation and this is delivering exceptional value to solar customers with our new SunPower Performance 7 products,” said Bill Mulligan, CEO of Maxeon.

“We are confident that the new Performance Line provides the right combination of price and performance, helping our customers meet their financial and energy goals.”

Maxeon says the modules’ glass-glass construction can withstand a range of extreme weather conditions including hail, wind, snow, and extreme temperature swings. They offer a 30 year power, product and service warranty.

Importantly, Maxeon’s new Performance 7 panels are the latest product in the company’s lineup to be Cradle to Cradle Certified by the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute.

The Cradle to Cradle Certification assesses the safety, circularity, and responsibility of materials and products across five categories of sustainability performance – material health, product circularity, clean air & climate protection, water & soil stewardship, and social fairness.

“Maxeon’s exceptional transparency and relationship with their supply chain made this process run smoothly and proved their commitment … to achieve their long-term sustainability goals,” said Michelle Molloy, managing director of MBDC, an accredited assessor of the Cradle to Cradle certification program.

“We are proud to have worked with Maxeon through this process and look forward to continuing this relationship to foster change throughout the solar technology industry.”