SunPower

SunPower is wholly owned by TotalEnergies, the French multinational energy company. TotalEnergies completed its full acquisition of SunPower in 2022, folding the solar firm into its broader renewables division. The Thomas family were early founders, but the firm now operates as a subsidiary of TotalEnergies.

SunPower both manufactures and installs solar panels. The company produces high-efficiency monocrystalline panels at its facilities in Mexico and the Philippines, and also sells directly to homeowners through its network of dealers and installation partners. For commercial and utility-scale projects, SunPower often serves as a panel supplier rather than installer.

SunPower serves residential, commercial, and utility-scale solar markets in the United States, Canada, and parts of Europe. Its residential channel includes direct sales to homeowners and partnerships with homebuilders like Lennar and KB Home. The utility segment focuses on large-scale solar farms, often for corporate and government off-takers.

SunPower panels use a cell design that typically achieves higher efficiency than standard panels. The company claims its Maxeon line offers 22.8% efficiency with a 40-year warranty. Panels are produced at dedicated facilities and distributed through a dealer network that marks the firm apart from purely distribution-focused solar companies.

Yes, SunPower offers the SunVault residential energy storage system, launched in January 2023. The lithium-iron-phosphate battery system pairs with SunPower solar panels to store excess energy for nighttime or grid-outage use. SunVault is sold through SunPower's network of certified dealers as part of a bundled solar-plus-storage package.

TotalEnergies acquired SunPower in stages, beginning with a majority stake in 2011 and completing a full buyout of remaining shares in 2022. SunPower now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of TotalEnergies, integrated into the parent company's renewable energy strategy. TotalEnergies provides capital for SunPower's R&D, manufacturing, and project pipeline.

Yes, the SunPower Foundation focuses on renewable energy education and solar access for underserved communities. The foundation provides grants and solar installations for nonprofits, schools, and low-income housing. It operates separately from the corporate entity, with its own board and funding from SunPower's profits.