K Road And SunPower Complete 25-Megawatt McHenry Solar Plant For Modesto Irrigation District

MODESTO, Calif., Oct. 30, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Modesto Irrigation District (MID), K Road Power Holdings, LLC (K Road) and SunPower Corp. (NASDAQ: SPWR) announced today the completion of K Road's 25-megawatt (AC) McHenry Solar Plant in Modesto, Calif., which was designed and constructed by SunPower. The project created nearly 150 construction jobs, and is generating the equivalent amount of power for approximately 6,000 homes.

"The McHenry Solar Project takes advantage of our unlimited solar resource to provide clean, reliable electricity to customers, while helping MID comply with California's renewable energy requirements for utilities," said MID Assistant General Manager of Electric Resources Roger VanHoy.  "When MID buys power generated from utility-scale solar, our whole community shares the promise of emission-free energy from the sun."

K Road owns the McHenry Solar Plant, for which SunPower is now providing operations and maintenance services. Under a 25-year power purchase agreement, MID is buying the power generated by the project's solar photovoltaic (PV) technology, helping the utility achieve California's 33 percent renewable portfolio standard.

"The McHenry Solar Plant is a world-class solar project, and represents K Road's commitment to own and operate a diversified portfolio of solar PV generating assets under long term supply relationships," said William Kriegel, K Road's chairman and chief executive officer.  "We are proud to supply clean, renewable electricity to communities served by the Modesto Irrigation District."

At the site, SunPower installed the SunPower® Oasis® Power Plant product, which is fully integrated, modular solar technology engineered to rapidly deploy utility-scale solar projects while minimizing land use. This is the first installed commercial solar power system to use high-efficiency panels manufactured with the third-generation SunPower Maxeon® solar cell, which offers world-record efficiency by delivering sunlight to electricity conversion efficiency of up to 24 percent.

"The McHenry Solar Plant created jobs and economic opportunity in Stanislaus County during its seven months of construction, and is now delivering 25 megawatts of solar power to MID's customers, helping to meet the region's growing energy demand," said SunPower President Howard Wenger. "SunPower is pleased to provide our partners with reliable and leading technology that delivers more power than competing technologies over the life of the system."

About Modesto Irrigation District

The Modesto Irrigation District (MID), located in California's Central Valley, provides electric service and irrigation water and treats surface water for drinking. MID is an independent, publicly owned utility providing benefits that include community ownership, control by a locally-elected Board of Directors, and business operation on a not-for-profit basis. MID is committed to providing reliable service at the lowest cost possible.

MID's electric service area includes the greater Modesto area north of the Tuolumne River, Waterford, Salida, Mountain House (Northwest of Tracy) and parts of Ripon, Escalon, Oakdale and Riverbank.

About K Road Power

K Road Power is an independent power developer focused on developing, financing, owning and operating utility‐scale solar projects. Founded and led by William Kriegel, K Road's senior management is made up of long time power sector professionals from Sithe Energies, AES Corporation, Barclays, and Goldman Sachs. Together, K Road principals have a 25‐year history of successfully developing and safely operating over 20,000 megawatts of conventional and renewable power assets, consistently creating exceptional value for both shareholders and project stakeholders. K Road promotes sustainable, renewable energy development with a focus on reliability and efficiency in concert with environmental and social responsibility. K Road has offices in New York City and San Francisco. In August 2011, Barclays Natural Resource Investments ("BNRI"), a division of Barclays Bank PLC, entered a partnership with K Road Power to equity fund the continued development, construction, and operations of K Road Power's utility-scale solar portfolio.  BNRI partners with top quality management teams to invest in the global natural resources space, particularly upstream oil & gas, mining, power & renewables.  It was founded in 2006, has as of April 2012 committed $2.1 billion equity across 22 portfolio companies and management teams. For more information, please visit www.bnri.com.  For more information on K Road Power, go to www.kroadpower.com.

About SunPower

SunPower Corp. (NASDAQ: SPWR) designs, manufactures and delivers the highest efficiency, highest reliability solar panels and systems available today. Residential, business, government and utility customers rely on the company's quarter century of experience and guaranteed performance to provide maximum return on investment throughout the life of the solar system. Headquartered in San Jose, Calif., SunPower has offices in North America, Europe, Australia, Africa and Asia. For more information, visit www.sunpowercorp.com.  

Epuron Acquires Australia's Largest Tracking Solar Power Plant from SunPower

SAN JOSE, Calif., and SYDNEY, Oct. 3, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- SunPower Corp. (NASDAQ: SPWR) and Epuron today announced that Epuron has acquired the 1-megawatt Uterne solar power plant operating in Alice Springs, Australia. Commonwealth Bank (ASX: CBA), Australia's leading provider of integrated financial services, has provided project financing, making it the country's first major bank to support a solar project of this size.

The project was developed by SunPower with the support of Power and Water Corporation. Under a solar power purchase agreement, Power and Water Corporation will buy generated electricity at a guaranteed rate over a 20-year term. Following the acquisition, SunPower will continue to provide operations and maintenance services in conjunction with Ogden Power, a SunPower accredited solar company based in Alice Springs.

"Epuron's acquisition of Uterne underscores the bankability of SunPower's industry-leading, high efficiency technology, decades of proven experience and more than 2,500 megawatts deployed globally," said Howard Wenger, SunPower president, regions. "This solar power plant has exceeded reliability and energy production expectations since it was commissioned in June 2011, and will reliably generate power and return on investment for the life of the system."

"The acquisition of Uterne further demonstrates Epuron's commitment to a growing solar portfolio in the Northern Territory," said Epuron Executive Director Andrew Durran. "The project is a great addition to our 1-megawatt remote TKLN Solar project, making Epuron one of the largest solar project owners and asset managers in Australia. Epuron is especially pleased to be able to project finance the acquisition through CBA, a first for a project of this size in Australia."

Uterne is comprised of high efficiency SunPower solar panels installed on the SunPower® T20 Tracker, which positions panels to follow the sun during the day, increasing daily energy production by up to 30 percent over conventional fixed-tilt installations. In August 2012, Uterne received an Engineering Excellence Award from the Institution of Engineers Australia.

The development of Uterne was made possible with funding assistance from the Australian Government as part of its Solar Cities program. The solar power plant is a key component of the Alice Solar City program and illustrates the initiative's success in developing more sustainable energy solutions in Australia.

About SunPower

SunPower Corp. (NASDAQ: SPWR) designs, manufactures and delivers the highest efficiency, highest reliability solar panels and systems available today. Residential, business, government and utility customers rely on the company's quarter century of experience and guaranteed performance to provide maximum return on investment throughout the life of the solar system. Headquartered in San Jose, Calif., SunPower has offices in North America, Europe, Australia, Africa and Asia. For more information, visit www.sunpowercorp.com.

About Epuron

Founded in 2003, Epuron is a leading Australian renewable energy company with a focus on development of utility-scale wind and solar energy projects.  Epuron's TKLN Solar project in the Northern Territory is ready to supply three remote communities in Australia's outback.  Epuron is also one of Australia's most successful wind farm developers. It has developed the highest yielding, largest, and largest number of wind farms in NSW. Epuron is working with both mining and utility clients to provide reliable, off-grid power using solar and wind energy to supplement diesel or gas power supplies.  For more information, visit www.epuron.com.au.

SunPower to Announce Third-Quarter Results on Nov. 1, 2012

SAN JOSE, Calif., Oct. 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- SunPower Corp. (NASDAQ: SPWR) will announce its third-quarter financial results on a conference call Thursday, Nov. 1 at 1:30 p.m. Pacific Time. The call-in number is 517-623-4618, passcode SunPower.  The call will be webcast and can be accessed from SunPower's website at http://investors.sunpowercorp.com/events.cfm.

The earnings press release and supplemental financial information will be made available on the SunPower website at http://investors.sunpowercorp.com/events.cfm at 1:05 p.m. Pacific Time on Nov. 1, 2012.

About SunPower
SunPower Corp. (NASDAQ: SPWR) designs, manufactures and delivers the highest efficiency, highest reliability solar panels and systems available today. Residential, business, government and utility customers rely on the company's quarter century of experience and guaranteed performance to provide maximum return on investment throughout the life of the solar system. Headquartered in San Jose, Calif., SunPower has offices in North America, Europe, Australia, Africa and Asia. For more information, visit www.sunpowercorp.com.

1.3-Megawatt SunPower Solar System to Power Exploratorium's New Waterfront Home

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- SunPower Corp. (NASDAQ: SPWR) announced today the completion of a 1.3-megawatt high efficiency SunPower solar power system on the roof of the Exploratorium's future home on San Francisco's Embarcadero. The system is designed to ultimately generate 100 percent of the electricity demand at the new state-of-the-art facility, which is scheduled to open in spring 2013.

"The SunPower system is a critical piece of the puzzle in meeting our 'net-zero energy' goal, reducing our impact on the environment, and eliminating a significant operational cost," said Dennis Bartels, executive director of the Exploratorium. "The savings will allow us to invest more in the innovative learning experiences for which we are known worldwide, as well as create learning opportunities about the physics of energy."

The system uses SunPower solar panels that are up to 50 percent more efficient than conventional panels. System performance, updated every 15 minutes, will be displayed in the lobby of the new facility. According to estimates provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the SunPower solar power system will avoid the emissions of 33,150 tons of carbon dioxide over the 30-year life of the system, which is equivalent to removing 5,910 cars from California's highways.

"Only with SunPower's high efficiency technology will the Exploratorium be able to generate all of its electricity demand from a rooftop system – no other solar panel on the market today can achieve the same results within the limited roof area," said Tom Werner, SunPower president and CEO. "SunPower is proud to be one of the Exploratorium's sustainability partners, enabling the museum to achieve significant long-term savings that will support its important work advancing scientific learning for all ages."

To meet its net-zero energy goal, as well as to qualify as a LEED gold facility, a number of additional features have been integrated into the design of the new Exploratorium facility, including an innovative heating and cooling system using filtered water from the San Francisco Bay, high performance glass to limit heat gain, maximized use of natural light, and use of low-emitting materials and materials with recycled content. Click here for more information on the Exploratorium's net-zero efforts.

About Exploratorium
The Exploratorium is the global leader in informal learning, designed to ignite curiosity and inspire creativity in people of all ages. The world-renowned science museum creates original, interactive exhibits, on display at more than 1,000 science centers, museums and public spaces around the world. Dedicated to education reform in and out of the classroom, the Exploratorium is a premier professional development center for educators and a creator of award-winning educational resources. Since 1969, the Exploratorium has influenced generations of entrepreneurs, artists, scientists, teachers, students, children and everyday doers, reaching nearly 200 million people annually. In the spring of 2013, the Exploratorium will move to Pier 15 in the heart of San Francisco's waterfront district, where it will celebrate a new era of experiences that encourage critical thinking and awaken wonder for generations to come. For more information, visit www.exploratorium.edu.

About SunPower
SunPower Corp. (NASDAQ: SPWR) designs, manufactures and delivers the highest efficiency, highest reliability solar panels and systems available today. Residential, business, government and utility customers rely on the company's quarter century of experience and guaranteed performance to provide maximum return on investment throughout the life of the solar system. Headquartered in San Jose, Calif., SunPower has offices in North America, Europe, Australia, Africa and Asia. For more information, visit www.sunpowercorp.com.

Tucson Electric Power Plans 6-Megawatt SunPower C7 Tracker System

TUCSON, Ariz. and SAN JOSE, Calif., Sept. 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Reinforcing its commitment to promote the use of renewable energy, Tucson Electric Power (TEP) has modified an existing agreement with SunPower Corp. (NASDAQ: SPWR) to incorporate six megawatts of its new C7 Tracker technology into a planned facility that will also include two megawatts of SunPower's T5 Solar Roof Tile technology. The SunPower C7 Tracker is a solar photovoltaic tracking system that concentrates the sun's power seven times and, when at scale, can deliver the lowest levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) for utility-scale solar power plants.

"TEP is committed to maintaining its leadership role in the development of solar energy in Southern Arizona by utilizing new and innovative technologies," said Carmine Tilghman, director of renewable resources and programs at TEP and its parent company, UNS Energy Corp. (NYSE: UNS). "SunPower's C7 Tracker provides us a great opportunity to expand our solar development while providing our customers with cost-effective renewable energy.

"This project, which will be owned by TEP, will assist the company in reaching its goal of incorporating more than 200 megawatts of solar energy into its system by the end of 2013," Tilghman added.

"TEP is leading the way by utilizing proven solar technology with the best economics over the long term," said Howard Wenger, SunPower president, regions. "The SunPower C7 Tracker leverages two decades of experience in reliable tracking systems to deliver bankable technology, guaranteed performance and the greatest return on investment for utility customers."

The C7 Tracker combines single-axis tracking technology with rows of parabolic mirrors, reflecting light onto 22.8 percent efficient SunPower Maxeon™ solar cells, which are the world's most efficient commercially available solar cells.  Using mirrors to reduce the number of solar cells required to generate electricity lowers the LCOE by up to 20 percent compared to competing technologies. For example, a 400-megawatt C7 Tracker power plant requires less than 70 megawatts of SunPower solar cells.

The C7 Tracker includes modular solar cell receivers allowing for future performance upgrades. Additionally, the SunPower advanced Tracker Monitoring and Control System (TMAC™) provides wireless control of the power plant for increased operating efficiency and reduced maintenance cost. SunPower can rapidly deploy regional manufacturing of the system, supporting local job creation.

The C7 Tracker is ideal for regions with high solar irradiance through direct sunlight, including the U.S. Southwest and areas of the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia and Australia.

The C7 Tracker installation for TEP will begin construction in January 2013, and is expected to be operational by December 2013.

This agreement modifies a previous agreement under which SunPower was contracted to deliver 11 megawatts of rooftop solar technology to TEP.

About Tucson Electric Power
Tucson Electric Power provides safe, reliable service to more than 404,000 customers in southern Arizona. TEP was recognized this year as the 2012 Investor Owned Utility (IOU) of the Year by The Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA) for the company's leadership and continued investment in solar energy. To learn more about TEP's solar energy programs, visit tep.com. For more information about UNS Energy, visit uns.com.

About SunPower Corp.
SunPower Corp. (NASDAQ: SPWR) designs, manufactures and delivers the highest efficiency, highest reliability solar panels and systems available today. Residential, business, government and utility customers rely on the company's quarter century of experience and guaranteed performance to provide maximum return on investment throughout the life of the solar system. Headquartered in San Jose, Calif., SunPower has offices in North America, Europe, Australia, Africa and Asia. For more information, visit www.sunpowercorp.com.