SunPower Unveils “Monolith” 470W Solar Panel In Partnership With REC, Pioneering High-Power Residential Panels

SunPower Inc., a leading solar technology, services, and installation company, has unveiled its new “Monolith” solar panel, the first product developed under its Joint Development Agreement (JDA) with REC Group, a globally recognized leader in solar panel manufacturing for the U.S. residential market. The JDA focuses on developing, engineering, and commercializing high-wattage, frameless bifacial solar panels for residential and light commercial applications.

SunPower Chairman and CEO, T.J. Rodgers, highlighted the company’s long history of innovation, noting that since its founding in 1985, SunPower has been at the forefront of solar cell and panel technology. “By the time of the SPWR Initial Public Offering in 2005, SunPower had already developed the most technologically advanced solar panels in the industry and manufactured them on fully automated lines. We now add to that record through our collaboration with REC, the current U.S. residential solar panel industry volume leader, known for durability, high quality standards, and innovation,” Rodgers said.

The first product from the JDA, named “Monolith” by SunPower, is a solid-black panel weighing just 50 pounds, the maximum U.S. OSHA single-worker residential panel weight limit, while producing a record 470 watts of power under standard test conditions. SunPower has exclusive rights to the REC Alpha Pure-TX 470W panel, which is already in production. The company plans to develop a bifacial version capable of collecting light from both sides—a technology SunPower demonstrated with NASA’s Helios solar-powered airplane in 2001—which is expected to increase output to over 500 watts.

Cary Hayes, President of REC Americas, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, “We are excited to partner with SunPower, a legacy brand in renewable energy committed to innovation and quality, and to continue advancing our cutting-edge bifacial panel technology.” Surinder S. Bedi, SunPower’s Executive Vice President of Quality, Engineering, and Customer Success, added that the new 470-watt panel and the forthcoming 500-plus watt bifacial panel are designed to deliver superior system performance and maximize long-term energy production even under challenging environmental conditions. Bedi emphasized that this innovation reduces the cost per kilowatt-hour of energy while providing exceptional value to system owners, many of whom are investment companies focused on return on investment.

Rodgers concluded, “As American households face rising utility costs, we and our partner REC remain committed to delivering the most advanced solar panel technology and complete solar system solutions to meet our customers’ growing energy needs.”