May 12 2010
SunPower Corporation ( SPWRA, SPWRB), a Silicon Valley-based manufacturer of high-efficiency solar cells, solar panels and solar systems, today announced its new SunPower Oasis™ Power Plant (SunPower Oasis), the industry's first modular solar power block that scales from 1-megawatt ac (MW) distributed installations to large central station power plants. SunPower Oasis provides a fully integrated, cost-effective way to rapidly deploy utility-scale solar, streamlining the development and construction process.
SunPower Oasis is engineered from the ground up to optimize use of available land. Each power block integrates the SunPower® T0 Tracker with SunPower's high-efficiency, 400-watt utility solar panel, pre-manufactured system cabling, the Oasis smart inverter, and the Oasis operating system. SunPower Oasis also features the SunPower advanced Tracker Monitoring and Control System (TMAC™) for wireless control of the power plant. The power block kits are shipped pre-assembled to the job site for rapid field installation, and offer the highest capacity factor and the most reliable long-term performance.
SunPower® T0 Tracker with SunPower® 400 Solar Panel
"SunPower Oasis is a ground-breaking, utility-scale solar solution that optimizes energy production, installation speed, material cost, and long-term reliability," said Howard Wenger, president, utility and power plants business group for SunPower Corp. "As our customers continue to build larger, more sophisticated solar power plants, it is critical that we offer them a seamlessly integrated solution. SunPower Oasis streamlines the entire power plant development process, from permitting through construction and financing."
The SunPower Oasis operating system is designed to support future grid interconnection requirements for large-scale solar power plants, such as voltage ride through and power factor control. It also features utility-standard SCADA operation and analytical tools, which include intelligent sensor and control networks for optimized power plant operation.
"SunPower Oasis meets the needs of utilities, investors, developers, and the local community," said Tom Werner, SunPower CEO. "SunPower's proven technology and experience is reflected in this new product which substantially lowers the cost of power plant ownership by significantly reducing balance of systems, development and operational costs."