SunPower vs. Sunrun —two giants on the forefront of the U.S. photo voltaic {industry}.
Each are identified for his or her high quality photo voltaic panels, battery techniques, and different solar-related choices. However who’re they? Which firm has superior merchandise? And above all, which of those photo voltaic suppliers is best for you?
This text will assist familiarize you with every of the above corporations by answering these questions and extra.
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SunPower Vs. Sunrun: Breakdown
SunPower vs. SunRun: SunPower overview
SunPower was first established in 1985 by Richard Swanson, {an electrical} engineering professor from Stanford, and has been headquartered in Silicon Valley ever since.
The corporate gives green-tech vitality options to customers by promoting, putting in, and financing solar energy merchandise corresponding to panels, batteries, monitoring software program, and mounting {hardware}.
Some extent of pleasure for this photo voltaic big is the truth that they’re the one U.S.-based firm that’s been round longer than its 25-year guarantee.
Break up
In August 2020, SunPower Company made the choice to separate into two separate public corporations:
- SunPower: Liable for supplying all solar-related companies to clients.
- Maxeon Photo voltaic: Liable for producing SunPower’s high-efficiency photo voltaic panels.
Maxeon Photo voltaic is predicated in Singapore, with factories in France, Malaysia, Mexico, and the Philippines. The corporate strategically selected these areas to assist them benefit from low-cost manufacturing processes all through Asia.
Now don’t let the thought of “low-cost manufacturing” put you off. Whereas the break up and placement change has decreased manufacturing prices, the standard stays unchanged.
For the reason that break up, Maxeon has offered SunPower with high quality merchandise such because the Maxeon 6 AC Photo voltaic Panel, which boasts an effectivity ranking of twenty-two.8%.
Briefly, the strategic determination to divide the corporate into two elements has paid off for each the corporate and its customers.
Are you struggling to measurement your photo voltaic system? Our in-house consultants have created a photo voltaic calculator to assist make issues simpler for you!
SunPower vs. Sunrun: Sunrun overview
Sunrun was first established in 2007 by founders Lynn Jurich, Nat Kreamer, and Ed Fenster.
The corporate engages within the design, improvement, set up, sale, possession, and upkeep of residential photo voltaic vitality techniques all through the U.S.
Sunrun gives these photo voltaic companies each on to its clients and thru its companions, together with set up, gross sales, and strategic companions (retail companions included).
Photo voltaic service pioneers
A major distinction between Sunrun and different photo voltaic corporations (SunPower included) is its photo voltaic service mannequin. Proper from its inception, Sunrun pioneered this mannequin to create a low-cost answer for purchasers searching for to decrease their vitality payments.
“So, what is that this photo voltaic service mannequin?“
The core service providing comes within the type of Sunrun’s lease and energy buy agreements — the corporate refers to those agreements as “Buyer Agreements.”
How It Works
Whereas SunRun permits clients corresponding to your self to buy one in all its photo voltaic techniques, 80% to 90% of its enterprise comes from “photo voltaic as a service.”
Primarily, you’ll enter into an settlement with Sunrun, which permits the corporate to lease out and set up a photo voltaic system on your house — sometimes over a 20 to 25-year interval.
Sunrun gives each day system monitoring, free upkeep, repairs, and complete insurance coverage all through this era. In alternate, it receives a gradual money circulation from a high-quality buyer with good credit score. Finally, this permits the corporate to qualify for tax (and different) advantages.
In the event you’re interested by Sunrun’s leasing choices, click on right here.
What’s in it for the house owner?
By getting into right into a lease settlement with Sunrun, you’ll be able to purchase a photo voltaic system for little to no cash upfront. As an alternative, you pay a month-to-month charge. You lower your expenses when this charge is lower than the native utility’s electrical energy charges.
However bear in mind, Sunrun nonetheless sells photo voltaic techniques. As such, you’ll be able to select from a number of versatile photo voltaic financing choices or pay outright.
Furthermore, you should purchase a leased photo voltaic system after the contract interval is up.
SunPower vs. Sunrun: Which firm produces higher high quality?
As a potential photo voltaic panel proprietor, it’s solely pure so that you can gravitate towards an organization with superior photo voltaic panels. Let’s take a more in-depth take a look at what every firm has to supply.
Which firm has superior photo voltaic panels?
SunPower
Proper off the bat, SunPower has the benefit. who produces its photo voltaic panels (Maxeon) and the place they’re manufactured.
Listed here are some examples of what SunPower has to supply:
| Specs | SPR-P6-395-BLK | SPR-P6-400-BLK | SPR-MAX3-410-BLK |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wattage | 395W | 400W | 410W |
| Effectivity | 20.1% | 22.6% | 21.6% |
| Product and Energy Guarantee | 25 years | 40 years | 40 years |
| Assured Output % At 25-Yr Mark | 86% | 92% | 92% |
High quality-wise, SunPower stands confidently behind its merchandise. The corporate gives a complete 25-year guarantee protecting its Efficiency Collection choices. Moreover, it gives an industry-leading 40-year guarantee on its Maxeon panels.
Sunrun
Sunrun doesn’t manufacture its personal merchandise. Whereas the corporate did have a partnership with LG, the South Korean tech big has since determined to cease manufacturing photo voltaic merchandise. As an alternative, the corporate makes use of a number of tools suppliers.
Right here’s the difficulty — you received’t know which panels you’ll be supplied with till you enter into the buying course of. With this in thoughts, it’s troublesome for us to offer you a concrete reply as to the general high quality of its panels.
Lastly, as a result of Sunrun doesn’t manufacture its photo voltaic panels, those that buy its photo voltaic arrays should depend on producer warranties. Nevertheless, the corporate gives a 10-year workmanship guarantee in opposition to harm to your roof or set up issues.
Which firm has superior vitality storage?
SunPower
SunPower gives its SunVault storage. This vitality storage answer (ESS) is a seamless backup energy choice throughout energy outages. Nevertheless, it’s additionally appropriate for basic use.
You may simply combine these items into current SunPower photo voltaic techniques. On the draw back, SunVault techniques are incompatible with third-party photo voltaic tools.
Sunrun
Sunrun doesn’t manufacture its personal ESS answer. As an alternative, it gives the Tesla Powerwall.
The Tesla Powerwall is a house battery system that shops vitality generated from photo voltaic panels or the grid. Furthermore, it may well present backup energy throughout energy outages.
The Powerwall is designed to be easy and simple to put in, whether or not on the bottom or wall-mounted. What’s extra, it’s scalable, so you’ll be able to set up a number of items collectively to extend your complete storage capability.
However right here’s the most effective half — you’ll be able to combine it into an current photo voltaic system or use it as a standalone backup energy supply.
Now let’s check out these corporations’ respective vitality storage choices:
| Specs | Powerwall+ | SunVault |
|---|---|---|
| Usable capability | 13.5 kWh | 13 to 26 kWh |
| Steady energy ranking | 5.0 kW | 6.8 kW |
| Depth of Discharge (DoD) | 100% | 100% |
| Spherical-trip effectivity | 90% | 85% |
| Guarantee | 10 years (limitless cycles) | 10 years (limitless cycles) |
| Finish of guarantee capability | 70% | 70% |
What’s the decision?
Photo voltaic panel-wise, SunPower takes the cake. The corporate’s complete 25 and 40-year warranties and the truth that its panels are identified entities make it an absolute no-brainer.
vitality storage, the winner isn’t so clear. Sunrun gives the Tesla Powerwall, which edges out SunPower’s SunVault by way of round-trip effectivity, though its steady energy ranking isn’t as excessive.
Nevertheless, the SunVault isn’t suitable with third-party photo voltaic techniques. Due to this fact, we give the benefit to Sunrun.
In want of some photo voltaic blueprints? Click on right here.
SunPower Vs. Sunrun: Which firm is cheaper?
Value of residential photo voltaic within the U.S.
To get a greater sense of the place every firm stands price-wise, it’s essential to know the worth of residential photo voltaic.
As per the above graph from the NREL’s newest photo voltaic {industry} replace, the median gross worth of residential photo voltaic in H1 2022 is $2.77 per watt.
SunPower
In line with the NREL, SunPower’s residential photo voltaic panels value round $3.92 per watt. Taking this determine into consideration, a 5kW photo voltaic panel system in america will value you round:
$3.92 per watt x 5,000 = $19,600
Supply: 2022 NREL white paper
Sunrun
Sunrun’s photo voltaic panels have a tendency to come back in at a costlier $5.39 per watt. Due to this fact, a 5kW photo voltaic panel system in america will value you round:
$5.39 per watt x 5,000 = $26,950
Be aware to our readers: the above values don’t take into account system effectivity. Whereas we’d prefer to account for effectivity to present you extra correct estimates, it merely isn’t doable because of Sunrun sourcing its merchandise from a number of third-party suppliers.
What’s the decision?
Each SunPower’s ($3.92) and Sunrun’s ($5.39) prices per watt are effectively over the $2.77 common.
However once more, it’s clear that the second spherical of the SunPower vs. Sunrun duel goes to SunPower, with the previous having a considerably cheaper cost-per-watt common.
Which Firm is Proper For You?
This a part of the SunPower vs. Sunrun debate comes all the way down to your wants.
If you wish to buy a photo voltaic system outright, then SunPower is the go-to choice. There’s a purpose the corporate has turn into a juggernaut within the photo voltaic {industry} — its service and merchandise are effectively famend and of top of the range.
Nevertheless, for those who don’t wish to commit to buying a system and would favor to lease one, Sunrun is a strong guess.
Sure, we all know that SunPower leases out their techniques too, however Sunrun has been on the forefront of photo voltaic leasing agreements for a very long time. In spite of everything, they did pioneer the mannequin.
Opinions
Opinions exist for a purpose. Positive, inherent bias does play a task, however it’d be foolish to disregard the worth of critiques completely.
With the above in thoughts, listed below are some hyperlinks to every firm’s critiques on Shopper Affairs and Greatest Firm.
SunPower
Sunrun
Associated Studying: SunPower vs. Tesla (Which model do you have to select?)
FAQs
How do SunPower and Sunrun method customer support and help?
Whereas the article doesn’t particularly point out the customer support particulars of SunPower and Sunrun, typically, respected photo voltaic corporations prioritize buyer help, providing varied channels like cellphone, e mail, and chat help to help with inquiries, points, or issues.
Potential clients are suggested to learn critiques and maybe contact every firm on to gauge the extent of customer support offered.
Can I combine Sunrun photo voltaic techniques with third-party vitality storage options?
The article doesn’t specify, however sometimes, photo voltaic corporations like Sunrun may permit integration with varied third-party vitality storage options, provided that compatibility and technical specs are met.
It could be finest to contact Sunrun immediately for exact data on integrations.
How environmentally pleasant are the manufacturing processes of SunPower and Sunrun?
The article doesn’t present particular particulars on the environmental impression of the manufacturing processes of SunPower and Sunrun.
For correct and detailed data on the sustainability and environmental practices of each corporations, it will be finest to check with official studies or attain out to the businesses immediately.
How do the set up processes of SunPower and Sunrun examine?
Specifics on the set up processes of SunPower and Sunrun usually are not lined within the article. Sometimes, the set up course of includes an preliminary evaluation, system design, allowing, set up, and ultimate inspections.
Potential clients ought to contact every firm immediately to know their respective set up processes, timelines, and any further companies provided.
What financing choices can be found for SunPower photo voltaic techniques apart from buying outright?
The article primarily discusses buying choices however doesn’t delve into particular particulars concerning SunPower’s different financing choices.
Typically, photo voltaic suppliers supply varied financing options together with leases, loans, and Energy Buy Agreements (PPAs). For detailed and customised financing choices, it is suggested to seek the advice of with SunPower immediately.
Are there any efficiency ensures offered by Sunrun given the variability in photo voltaic panel producers?
The article doesn’t present particular particulars about efficiency ensures by Sunrun. Often, corporations supply efficiency ensures to make sure that the photo voltaic techniques function at a sure effectivity stage.
Potential clients ought to inquire immediately with Sunrun to acquire exact data concerning efficiency ensures, particularly contemplating the variability in photo voltaic panel producers.
Remaining ideas
By now, we’re assured that you’ve got a a lot better thought of every firm and what they entail. However bear in mind, further analysis can solely profit you. So earlier than you decide to something, make sure you examine as a lot as doable.
In closing, we hope you’ve discovered this useful resource to be of use. Ought to you have got any additional questions or insights into this (or every other matter), we encourage you to observe us on Twitter or attain out to us within the feedback part beneath.