SUNNYVALE, Calif., Mar. 22, 2006 /PRNewswire/ -- SunPower Corporation (NASDAQ: SPWR), a Silicon Valley-based manufacturer of the world's highest efficiency, commercially available solar cells and solar panels, today announced that it is the first solar panel manufacturer worldwide to pass the tough, new TUV testing according to IEC 61215, edition 2 standards. The issuance of the TUV certificate confirms that SunPower's solar panels comply globally with the product safety and quality codes put forth by TUV's testing process.
"We are pleased to be the first solar panel manufacturer to pass the rigid new guidelines imposed by IEC's new testing standards," said William Mulligan, vice president, technology and development for SunPower Corporation. "The TUV Certificate further validates SunPower's commitment to producing the highest quality solar panels on the market."
TUV Rheinland Group is the leading international technical service provider, implementing the toughest independent testing and performance standards on the market today. SunPower received the most rigorous TUV certificate that rates and assesses the performance, quality and safety of SunPower's SPR-220 WHT, SPR-215 BLK and the SPR-95 WHT solar modules. These panels were qualified to the edition 2 standards for crystalline silicon terrestrial photovoltaic (PV) modules, design qualification and type approval.
"SunPower is not only the first company to comply with the new IEC 61215 testing procedures, but is the only company worldwide to pass our rigid standards for safety and quality to date," said Jorg Althaus, for TUV Rheinland Group. "Our goal is to establish the world's highest standard for solar photovoltaic performance and we are happy to have the world's highest efficiency solar panels be the first to achieve our new certifications."
About SunPower
SunPower Corporation designs and manufactures high-efficiency silicon solar cells and solar panels based on an all-back contact cell design. SunPower's solar cells and panels generate up to 50 percent more power per unit area than conventional solar technologies and have a uniquely attractive, all-black appearance. For more information on SunPower or solar technology, please visit the SunPower website at http://www.sunpowercorp.com/. SunPower is a majority-owned subsidiary of Cypress Semiconductor Corp. (NYSE: CY).
Forward Looking Statement
Statements made in this release that are not historical in nature and that refer to SunPower's plans and expectations for the future, are forward-looking statements made pursuant to the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We use words such as "estimates," "anticipates," "believes," "expects," "future," "look forward," "planning," "intends" and similar expressions to identify such forward-looking statements. Our actual results may differ materially due a variety of factors, including but not limited to the risks identified in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements included in this release are based upon information available to SunPower as of the date of this release, which may change, and we assume no obligation to update any such forward-looking statement.
SunPower is a registered trademark of SunPower Corporation. Cypress is a registered trademark of Cypress Semiconductor Corp. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
SOURCE: SunPower Corporation
CONTACT: Julie Blunden, Vice President External Affairs,
+1-408-470-4277
Web site: http://www.sunpowercorp.com/