By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent
SunPower is proving that you can be everything to everybody without trying to be the expert in everything yourself – a business model that could bode well for the company’s future as the U.S. solar industry continues to grow.
First, it purchased mid-tier module maker SolarWorld and announced plans to take over its Oregon manufacturing facility to broaden the scope of its module products. Tuesday, it announced it was selling its microinverter line to industry powerhouse Enphase and converting its AC module line to Enphase inverters instead of continuing to manufacture the products themselves. Which brings us to yesterday and the partnership with energy storage giant sonnen.
“SunPower is the solar industry’s gold standard for superior solar products and services which fits perfectly with sonnen’s leadership in developing intelligent and high performing residential energy storage systems,” said Blake Richetta, Senior Vice President and head of sonnen’s U.S. division, in a press release. “This new program is an ideal marriage between two innovative companies who possess a similar vision to provide premium technology that leads us to a clean and reliable energy future. We are eager to integrate our products and systems with Equinox and offer a premier and comprehensive solution for the growing solar + storage marketplace.”
As with the Enphase partnership, the new sonnen program centers around pairing the company’s energy storage offering with SunPower’s Equinox home solar energy systems. And, much like the deal with Enphase, it’s a partnership that benefits both parties.
SunPower dealers can now offer their customers a full system, from modules to inverters to storage, with no fuss and no muss. sonnen gets U.S. exposure and a built-in distribution system through SunPower’s integrated solar installers’ list.
Quietly, without much fanfare and almost in the background, SunPower is assembling a team that could position it to be the country’s leading solar company before long.
Somewhere, SunPower CEO Tom Werner is smiling.