SunPower Corp recently launched
the SunPower™ C7 Tracker, a solar
photovoltaic tracking system that
concentrates the sun's power seven
times to achieve the lowest levelized
cost of electricity (LCOE) for utilityscale
solar power plants available today.
The C7 Tracker combines single-axis
tracking technology with rows of
parabolic mirrors, reflecting light onto
22.8 percent efficient SunPower
Maxeon™ solar cells, which are the
world's most efficient commercially
available solar cells. Using mirrors to
reduce the number of solar cells required
to generate electricity lowers the LCOE
by up to 20 percent compared to
competing technologies. For example, a
400-mw C7 Tracker power plant
requires less than 70 mw of SunPower
solar cells, a SunPower relesae observed.
The C7 Tracker includes modular
solar cell receivers allowing for future
performance upgrades. Additionally,
the SunPower advanced Tracker
Monitoring and Control System
(TMACTM) provides wireless control
of the power plant for increased
operating efficiency and reduced
maintenance cost. SunPower can
rapidly deploy regional
manufacturing of the system,
supporting local job creation.
"The SunPower C7 Tracker
significantly increases SunPower's
effective manufacturing capacity,
delivers bankable technology with
guaranteed performance and
leverages a decade of experience in
reliable tracking systems," said Tom
Werner, CEO, SunPower. "With more
than 400 mw of power plants
operating around the world by the end
of this year, SunPower consistently
delivers the most efficient and reliable
solar technology on the market, and
the greatest return on investment to
our customers."
The C7 Tracker is ideal for regions
with high solar irradiance through
direct sunlight, including the US
Southwest and areas of the Middle
East, Africa, Europe, Asia and
Australia, the release further noted.