SunPower vs. Sunrun —two giants on the forefront of the U.S. photo voltaic {industry}.
Each are recognized for his or her high quality photo voltaic panels, battery methods, 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 supplies green-tech vitality options to customers by promoting, putting in, and financing solar energy merchandise reminiscent of panels, batteries, monitoring software program, and mounting {hardware}.
A degree of delight 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.
Cut up
In August 2020, SunPower Company made the choice to separate into two separate public corporations:
- SunPower: Chargeable for supplying all solar-related companies to clients.
- Maxeon Photo voltaic: Chargeable 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 reap the benefits of low-cost manufacturing processes all through Asia.
Now don’t let the concept of “low-cost manufacturing” put you off. Whereas the break up and placement change has decreased manufacturing prices, the standard stays unchanged.
Because the break up, Maxeon has supplied SunPower with high quality merchandise such because the Maxeon 6 AC Photo voltaic Panel, which boasts an effectivity score of twenty-two.8%.
In brief, 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 specialists 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 methods 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 patrons 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 reminiscent of your self to buy one among its photo voltaic methods, 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 property — sometimes over a 20 to 25-year interval.
Sunrun supplies every day system monitoring, free upkeep, repairs, and complete insurance coverage all through this era. In alternate, it receives a gradual money stream from a high-quality buyer with good credit score. In the end, this enables the corporate to qualify for tax (and different) advantages.
For those who’re excited about Sunrun’s leasing choices, click on right here.
What’s in it for the home-owner?
By coming 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 a substitute, you pay a month-to-month payment. You lower your expenses when this payment is lower than the native utility’s electrical energy charges.
However bear in mind, Sunrun nonetheless sells photo voltaic methods. As such, you’ll be able to select from a number of versatile photo voltaic financing choices or pay outright.
Furthermore, you should buy 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. You already know who produces its photo voltaic panels (Maxeon) and the place they’re manufactured.
Listed below 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 25-12 months Mark | 86% | 92% | 92% |
High quality-wise, SunPower stands confidently behind its merchandise. The corporate gives a complete 25-year guarantee overlaying its Efficiency Sequence 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 a substitute, the corporate makes use of a number of tools suppliers.
Right here’s the problem — 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. Nonetheless, the corporate supplies a 10-year workmanship guarantee towards injury 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. Nonetheless, it’s additionally appropriate for normal use.
You possibly can simply combine these models into current SunPower photo voltaic methods. On the draw back, SunVault methods are incompatible with third-party photo voltaic tools.
Sunrun
Sunrun doesn’t manufacture its personal ESS answer. As a substitute, 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 will probably 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 models collectively to extend your complete storage capability.
However right here’s the perfect 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 score | 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 recognized entities make it an absolute no-brainer.
Taking a look at vitality storage, the winner will not be so clear. Sunrun gives the Tesla Powerwall, which edges out SunPower’s SunVault by way of round-trip effectivity, though its steady energy score will not be as excessive.
Nonetheless, the SunVault will not be appropriate with third-party photo voltaic methods. 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?
Worth of residential photo voltaic within the U.S.
To get a greater sense of the place every firm stands price-wise, it’s vital 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 accordance with the NREL, SunPower’s residential photo voltaic panels price round $3.92 per watt. Taking this determine into consideration, a 5kW photo voltaic panel system in the USA will price 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 return in at a dearer $5.39 per watt. Due to this fact, a 5kW photo voltaic panel system in the USA will price you round:
$5.39 per watt x 5,000 = $26,950
Observe to our readers: the above values don’t think about system effectivity. Whereas we’d prefer to account for effectivity to offer you extra correct estimates, it merely isn’t doable attributable to 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 cause the corporate has grow to be a juggernaut within the photo voltaic {industry} — its service and merchandise are effectively famend and of top of the range.
Nonetheless, for those who don’t wish to commit to buying a system and would favor to lease one, Sunrun is a stable guess.
Sure, we all know that SunPower leases out their methods too, however Sunrun has been on the forefront of photo voltaic leasing agreements for a very long time. In any case, they did pioneer the mannequin.
Evaluations
Evaluations exist for a cause. Certain, inherent bias does play a task, however it’d be foolish to disregard the worth of evaluations completely.
With the above in thoughts, listed here are some hyperlinks to every firm’s evaluations on Client Affairs and Finest 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 assist?
Whereas the article doesn’t particularly point out the customer support particulars of SunPower and Sunrun, usually, respected photo voltaic corporations prioritize buyer assist, providing numerous channels like telephone, e-mail, and chat assist to help with inquiries, points, or issues.
Potential clients are suggested to learn evaluations and maybe contact every firm on to gauge the extent of customer support supplied.
Can I combine Sunrun photo voltaic methods with third-party vitality storage options?
The article doesn’t specify, however sometimes, photo voltaic corporations like Sunrun may permit integration with numerous third-party vitality storage options, provided that compatibility and technical specs are met.
It will 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 could be finest to consult with official stories or attain out to the businesses immediately.
How do the set up processes of SunPower and Sunrun evaluate?
Specifics on the set up processes of SunPower and Sunrun usually are not lined within the article. Sometimes, the set up course of entails an preliminary evaluation, system design, allowing, set up, and last inspections.
Potential clients ought to contact every firm immediately to know their respective set up processes, timelines, and any further companies supplied.
What financing choices can be found for SunPower photo voltaic methods in addition to buying outright?
The article primarily discusses buying choices however doesn’t delve into particular particulars concerning SunPower’s different financing choices.
Usually, photo voltaic suppliers supply numerous financing options together with leases, loans, and Energy Buy Agreements (PPAs). For detailed and customised financing choices, it is strongly recommended to seek the advice of with SunPower immediately.
Are there any efficiency ensures supplied 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 methods 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 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, you’ll want to examine as a lot as doable.
In closing, we hope you’ve discovered this useful resource to be of use. Ought to you will have any additional questions or insights into this (or some other matter), we encourage you to comply with us on Twitter or attain out to us within the feedback part under.