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 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 firms 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 shoppers by promoting, putting in, and financing solar energy merchandise equivalent to panels, batteries, monitoring software program, and mounting {hardware}.
Some extent of satisfaction 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 firms:
- SunPower: Liable for supplying all solar-related providers to prospects.
- Maxeon Photo voltaic: Liable 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 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 score of twenty-two.8%.
Briefly, the strategic resolution to divide the corporate into two components has paid off for each the corporate and its shoppers.
Are you struggling to dimension 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 methods all through the U.S.
Sunrun affords these photo voltaic providers 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 firms (SunPower included) is its photo voltaic service mannequin. Proper from its inception, Sunrun pioneered this mannequin to create a low-cost answer for patrons in search of 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 equivalent to your self to buy considered one of 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 private home — sometimes over a 20 to 25-year interval.
Sunrun gives every day system monitoring, free upkeep, repairs, and complete insurance coverage all through this era. In trade, it receives a gradual money move from a high-quality buyer with good credit score. In the end, this enables the corporate to qualify for tax (and different) advantages.
In the event you’re excited about Sunrun’s leasing choices, click on right here.
What’s in it for the house 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 an alternative, 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 keep 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 better 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 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 affords a complete 25-year guarantee overlaying its Efficiency Collection choices. Moreover, it affords 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 difficulty — 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 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 gives a 10-year workmanship guarantee towards harm to your roof or set up issues.
Which firm has superior vitality storage?
SunPower
SunPower affords 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 may simply combine these models into current SunPower photo voltaic methods. On the draw back, SunVault methods are incompatible with third-party photo voltaic gear.
Sunrun
Sunrun doesn’t manufacture its personal ESS answer. As an alternative, it affords 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 possibly 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 whole 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 firms’ 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 identified entities make it an absolute no-brainer.
vitality storage, the winner will not be so clear. Sunrun affords 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?
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 value of residential photo voltaic.
As per the above graph from the NREL’s newest photo voltaic {industry} replace, the median gross value 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 the US 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 dearer $5.39 per watt. Due to this fact, a 5kW photo voltaic panel system in the US will value you round:
$5.39 per watt x 5,000 = $26,950
Word to our readers: the above values don’t contemplate system effectivity. Whereas we’d prefer to account for effectivity to present 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 right down to your wants.
If you wish to buy a photo voltaic system outright, then SunPower is the go-to choice. 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 quality.
Nonetheless, in case you 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 methods 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.
Critiques
Critiques exist for a motive. Certain, inherent bias does play a task, but it surely’d be foolish to disregard the worth of critiques solely.
With the above in thoughts, listed here are some hyperlinks to every firm’s critiques on Shopper Affairs and Finest Firm.
SunPower
Sunrun
Associated Studying: SunPower vs. Tesla (Which model do you have to select?)
FAQs
How do SunPower and Sunrun strategy customer support and help?
Whereas the article doesn’t particularly point out the customer support particulars of SunPower and Sunrun, usually, respected photo voltaic firms prioritize buyer help, providing numerous channels like telephone, electronic mail, and chat help to help with inquiries, points, or issues.
Potential prospects 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 methods with third-party vitality storage options?
The article doesn’t specify, however sometimes, photo voltaic firms like Sunrun would possibly permit integration with numerous third-party vitality storage options, provided that compatibility and technical specs are met.
It might be finest to contact Sunrun straight 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 firms, it might be finest to discuss with official experiences or attain out to the businesses straight.
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. Usually, the set up course of entails an preliminary evaluation, system design, allowing, set up, and closing inspections.
Potential prospects ought to contact every firm straight to know their respective set up processes, timelines, and any further providers provided.
What financing choices can be found for SunPower photo voltaic methods moreover 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 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 straight.
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. Normally, firms supply efficiency ensures to make sure that the photo voltaic methods function at a sure effectivity stage.
Potential prospects ought to inquire straight with Sunrun to acquire exact data concerning efficiency ensures, particularly contemplating the variability in photo voltaic panel producers.
Ultimate 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, make sure to examine as a lot as potential.
In closing, we hope you’ve discovered this useful resource to be of use. Ought to you’ve got any additional questions or insights into this (or another subject), we encourage you to observe us on Twitter or attain out to us within the feedback part under.
