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 programs, 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 offers 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 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.
Break up
In August 2020, SunPower Company made the choice to separate into two separate public corporations:
- SunPower: Accountable for supplying all solar-related companies to prospects.
- Maxeon Photo voltaic: Accountable for producing SunPower’s high-efficiency photo voltaic panels.
Maxeon Photo voltaic relies in Singapore, with factories in France, Malaysia, Mexico, and the Philippines. The corporate strategically selected these places 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 site change has decreased manufacturing prices, the standard stays unchanged.
Because the 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%.
In brief, the strategic choice to divide the corporate into two elements has paid off for each the corporate and its customers.
Are you struggling to dimension 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 programs all through the U.S.
Sunrun presents these photo voltaic companies each on to its prospects 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 prospects corresponding to your self to buy one among its photo voltaic programs, 80% to 90% of its enterprise comes from “photo voltaic as a service.”
Basically, 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 offers every day system monitoring, free upkeep, repairs, and complete insurance coverage all through this era. In change, it receives a gentle money circulation from a high-quality buyer with good credit score. Finally, this permits the corporate to qualify for tax (and different) advantages.
If you happen to’re occupied with 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 possibly can purchase a photo voltaic system for little to no cash upfront. As an alternative, you pay a month-to-month price. You lower your expenses when this price is lower than the native utility’s electrical energy charges.
However keep in mind, Sunrun nonetheless sells photo voltaic programs. As such, you possibly can 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 recognize 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 25-12 months Mark | 86% | 92% | 92% |
High quality-wise, SunPower stands confidently behind its merchandise. The corporate presents a complete 25-year guarantee overlaying its Efficiency Sequence choices. Moreover, it presents 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 gear suppliers.
Right here’s the problem — you gained’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 give 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 offers a 10-year workmanship guarantee towards harm to your roof or set up issues.
Which firm has superior vitality storage?
SunPower
SunPower presents its SunVault storage. This vitality storage answer (ESS) is a seamless backup energy possibility throughout energy outages. Nonetheless, it’s additionally appropriate for normal use.
You may simply combine these items into present SunPower photo voltaic programs. On the draw back, SunVault programs are incompatible with third-party photo voltaic gear.
Sunrun
Sunrun doesn’t manufacture its personal ESS answer. As an alternative, it presents 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 possibly can set up a number of items collectively to extend your complete storage capability.
However right here’s the most effective half — you possibly can combine it into an present 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 recognized entities make it an absolute no-brainer.
Taking a look at vitality storage, the winner shouldn’t be so clear. Sunrun presents the Tesla Powerwall, which edges out SunPower’s SunVault by way of round-trip effectivity, though its steady energy ranking shouldn’t be as excessive.
Nonetheless, the SunVault shouldn’t be suitable with third-party photo voltaic programs. 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 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 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 return 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
Notice 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 potential on account 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 nicely 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 possibility. There’s a motive the corporate has turn out to be a juggernaut within the photo voltaic {industry} — its service and merchandise are nicely famend and of top of the range.
Nonetheless, for those who don’t wish to commit to buying a system and would like to lease one, Sunrun is a strong wager.
Sure, we all know that SunPower leases out their programs 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 motive. Certain, inherent bias does play a job, however it’d be foolish to disregard the worth of evaluations fully.
With the above in thoughts, listed here are some hyperlinks to every firm’s evaluations on Shopper Affairs and Greatest Firm.
SunPower
Sunrun
Associated Studying: SunPower vs. Tesla (Which model must you 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 varied channels like telephone, electronic mail, and chat assist to help with inquiries, points, or considerations.
Potential prospects are suggested to learn evaluations and maybe contact every firm on to gauge the extent of customer support offered.
Can I combine Sunrun photo voltaic programs with third-party vitality storage options?
The article doesn’t specify, however sometimes, photo voltaic corporations like Sunrun would possibly permit integration with varied third-party vitality storage options, on condition 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 affect of the manufacturing processes of SunPower and Sunrun.
For correct and detailed data on the sustainability and environmental practices of each corporations, it might be finest to consult with official experiences 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 will not be lined within the article. Usually, the set up course of includes an preliminary evaluation, system design, allowing, set up, and closing inspections.
Potential prospects 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 programs in addition to 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 strongly recommended 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 programs function at a sure effectivity stage.
Potential prospects ought to inquire immediately with Sunrun to acquire exact data concerning efficiency ensures, particularly contemplating the variability in photo voltaic panel producers.
Last ideas
By now, we’re assured that you’ve a a lot better concept of every firm and what they entail. However keep in mind, further analysis can solely profit you. So earlier than you decide to something, you’ll want to examine as a lot as potential.
In closing, we hope you’ve discovered this useful resource to be of use. Ought to you could have any additional questions or insights into this (or every other subject), we encourage you to observe us on Twitter or attain out to us within the feedback part beneath.