History

SunPower has been developing record-breaking solar technology since the 1970s. Their history over these decades has been marked by creativity, craftsmanship – and confidence.

1970s

SunPower’s record of solar innovation began nearly four decades ago, when their co-founder, Dr. Richard Swanson, was pondering ways to deal with the oil crisis. At that time, solar cells were being used on satellites, a concept he found intriguing. His engineering challenge was to figure out how to make the cells more cost-effective. So he began a quest that, almost 40 years later, has helped position SunPower as a leader in residential, commercial and utility-scale solar power production.

1980s

By 1985, Dr. Swanson (who by then was a professor of electrical engineering at Stanford) had been awarded grants from the Electric Power Research Institute and the U.S. Department of Energy to support his solar power explorations. With the help of these funds – as well as financial support from two venture capital firms – SunPower was officially incorporated in April 1985.

1990s

In the 1990s, SunPower received initial funding from Associate Venture Investors and Technology Funding and an R&D contract from EPRI and US DOE. SunPower solar technology was used to power some of the most innovative applications for solar power race cars and airplanes.

1990

SunPower receives initial funding from Associate Venture Investors and an R&D contract from EPRI and the U.S. Department of Energy.

1993

SunPower all-back contact, high efficiency solar cells power a Honda car to victory in a car race across Australia, beating second place winner by one full day.

1997

SunPower high efficiency solar cells power NASA’s Pathfinder, an unmanned, remotely piloted, solar-power, high altitude aircraft.

2000s

This decade was filled with many accomplishments and milestones for SunPower. The company became publicly listed on the NASDAQ with CEO Tom Werner taking the company to new levels. SunPower set new world records in solar cell efficiency.

2001

Our world-record efficiency A-300 solar cells power NASA’s Helios project, achieving a record altitude of 96,863 feet.

2002

Cypress Semiconductor board invest $8 million in SunPower.

2003

SunPower recruits Tom Werner as CEO, to take the company to the next level.

2004

SunPower’s first manufacturing facility (Fab 1) comes online in the Philippines and the company’s first utility-scale power plant comes online in Bavaria.

2005

A successful Initial Public Offering fuels new growth and a solidified position in the solar market.

2007

SunPower begins volume production of its record breaking high efficiency solar cell, averaging 22.4% conversion efficiency. SunPower acquires PowerLight, resulting in a vertically integrated company serving the residential, commercial and utility-scale power plant markets. A second manufacturing facility (Fab 2) with 330 MW capacity rating on 10 lines, comes online in the Philippines.

2008

SunPower announces a world-record monocrystalline silicon prototype solar cell with efficiency of 23.4%.

2009

President Obama dedicates a 25 MW SunPower solar power plant system at Florida Power & Light’s Desoto installation. PlanetSolar chooses SunPower high-efficiency solar cells to power the world’s largest solar catamaran.

2010s

This decade was filled with many accomplishments and milestones for SunPower. The company became publicly listed on the NASDAQ with CEO Tom Werner taking the company to new levels. SunPower set new world records in solar cell efficiency.

2010

SunPower announces a world-record monocrystalline silicon prototype solar cell with efficiency of 23.4$.

2011

Total SA and SunPower partner to create a new global leader in the solar industry. SunPower® Maxeon™ solar cell technology powers Solar Impulse, a prototype solar airplane, that for the first time in aviation history succeeds in flying for 26 consecutive hours powered only by solar energy. SunPower launches the C7 Tracker which concentrates the sun’s power seven times to achieve the lowest levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) for utility-scale solar power plants.

2013

Solar Impulse, the solar-powered airplane powered by SunPower solar cells, successfully flies across America. SunPower and U.S. Bancorp team up to offer “Zero-Down” financing and direct-from-manufacturer performance guarantee. SunPower announces acquisition of Greenbotics, Inc. to offer robotic solar panel cleaning products and services for large-scale solar power plants.

2014

SunPower achieves production milestone, manufacturing its one-billionth solar cell. SunPower solar panels awarded Cradle to Cradle Certification for sustainable manufacturing processes. The first and only solar company to achieve this recognition. SunPower acquires SolarBridge Technologies, Inc., for high performance microinverter technology that offers system design flexibility and lower cost of installation. SunPower invests in integrated technology solutions to help customers manage their cost of energy, reinforcing the company’s evolution to offering Smart Energy solutions for its residential, commercial and utility customers.

2015

First Solar and SunPower announce public filing of registration statement for proposed initial public offering of a YieldCo. SunPower celebrates its 30th anniversary.