Maxeon panels provide greater peace of mind than Conventional Solar Panels.1“Conventional Panel” is a panel made with Conventional Cells. “Conventional Cells” are silicon cells that have many thin metal lines on the front and interconnect ribbons soldered along the front and back.

Maxeon panels lead the solar industry in panel efficiency2Based on datasheet review of websites of top 20 manufacturers per IHS, as of June 2020. and deliver more bill savings by generating the most solar power and long-term solar energy in a given amount of roof space. 

Over time, the advantage grows, because Maxeon panels also have the lowest degradation rate in the solar industry. While most Conventional Panels tend to degrade around 0.75%/year, Maxeon panels have proven to degrade at less than one-third of that rate, or about 0.2%/year.3Jordan, et al, “Robust PV Degradation Methodology Application” PVSC 2018 and “Compendium of Photovoltaic Degradation Rates” PiP 2016. To translate into real results – that means a Maxeon panel delivers up to 25% more energy in its first year of operation. In year 25, that advantage grows to about 45% more energy, for an average of 35% more energy during the first 25 years.4Maxeon 450 W, 22.2% efficient panel, compared to a Conventional Panel on same-sized arrays (370 W mono PERC, 19% efficient, approx. 2 m²).

Maxeon panels also deliver greater peace of mind, having earned the trust of experts by being more reliable and durable—and backed by an industry-leading warranty. Not only is this warranty stronger, but unlike most conventional warranties, it is based on actual field-testing data. For example, the power warranty promises no more than a 0.25%/ year power drop. This is backed by a study of more than 230MW across 149 actual global sites using a methodology developed in collaboration with NREL. We also know from actual field data that only 0.005% or 1 in 20,000 Maxeon panels have been returned under warranty.5"A Comparative Study: DC Solar Module Warranty Claim Rate vs. Conventional Panels." 2019.  Lastly, Maxeon panels are built with our customers in mind, which means higher sustainability standards than Conventional Panels. Maxeon panels have pioneered sustainability efforts in solar manufacturing, and have been recognized with the prestigious Cradle to Cradle Certified™ Bronze designation for direct current (DC) panels. The Cradle to Cradle designation demonstrates the products' quality based on rankings of material health, material reutilization, renewable energy use, water stewardship, and social fairness.

Maxeon panels were also the first and only solar panel to disclose its ingredients through the Declare label – available for all Maxeon 2 and 3 panels. In March 2020, our Mexicali, Mexico manufacturing facility was re-certified by NSF Sustainability as Zero Waste to Landfill – and remains the only solar panel manufacturing facility to achieve this. The certification means that this facility diverts more than 99% of its waste, with 1% or less going to landfills.

Maxeon Performance solar panels utilize high efficiency mono PERC cells to deliver higher reliability and efficiency than Conventional Cells. For more information on Performance Panels, visit the Performance panels page.

The Maxeon panel advantage begins with its cell. The Maxeon cell is a fundamentally different design from any other cell on the market, starting with a solid copper foundation that is unique in the solar industry.

In contrast, what appears to be metal on the front and back of a Conventional Cell is actually conductive paste made of tiny bits of silver and aluminum baked onto the silicon wafer. In fact, the process of making those cells is very similar to screen-printing a design on a tee-shirt: you create a template, wipe the paint across the template and then remove the template to leave the paint where you want it on the tee-shirt, and then bake the tee-shirt to cure the paint onto the fabric. A similar screen-printing process is used to apply the thin lines of metal paste on the front, and the full-coverage metal paste on the back, to create a Conventional Solar Cell. Unlike the strength of the solid copper foundation of the Maxeon cell, the metal paste of the Conventional Cell offers almost no strength to the thin silicon wafer. This fundamental design difference creates the weakness you can find through basic laboratory testing.

A Maxeon solar panel delivers up to 25% more energy than a Conventional Panel in its first year of operation. In year 25, the difference would grow to about 45% more energy, for an average of 35% more energy during the first 25 years.1Maxeon 450 W, 22.2% efficient panel, compared to a Conventional Panel on same-sized arrays (370 W mono PERC, 19% efficient, approx. 2 m²). Maxeon solar panels are predicted to have a useful life of more than 40 years.240-year Useful Life Whitepaper. 2013.

With solar, as with many things, “you get what you pay for.” Not all solar systems are alike. The quality of the technology matters in the long run. The durability, reliability and efficiency of solar panels can vary widely by manufacturer. If you settle for Conventional Panels that might cost less out-of-pocket, you can expect to see average (or below average) results and less savings over time.

A higher quality panel might cost a little more up front, but you will see more predictable performance in the long run. Maxeon panels generate more energy, last longer, are backed by a stronger warranty, and are produced more sustainably than Conventional Panels.