“Our SunPower solar energy system is everything our dealer said it would be, and is worth the investment.”
Trevor Ledet, Louisiana
If you live in certain areas of the world – the Gulf States of the U.S. or the Pacific Rim, for example – you know all about humidity. Just walking around on a moist, hot day can make you feel like you’re melting. Have you ever thought about what happens to your solar panels in high humidity?
The fact is that moisture (whether from humidity, rain, fog or snow) can corrode the internal metal components of conventional solar panels, severely compromising performance.
SunPower's reliable solar panels, however, feature our patented Maxeon solar cells, which use a thick coating of copper, topped with corrosion-resistant tin for consistent, long term solar system performance.
How can we be sure? SunPower’s research and development team tests solar panels at three times the industry standard for moisture and humidity certification. In these tests, panels are subjected to 85% humidity at temperatures up to 185° F to ensure they will generate clean, renewable power for a full 25 years or more on your rooftop. Leading conventional panels begin to fail under these conditions, but SunPower panels continue to deliver power reliably.
Don’t just take our word for it, though. Here’s what two of our customers in Louisiana have to say about the real world conditions in which their SunPower solar power systems perform:
“Our SunPower 6.025-kilowatt solar system was installed in July 2010, and it has exceeded our expectations. We have a gas/electric home that uses about 14000+ kilowatts a year, and our system has reduced our use of grid-supplied electricity by 63%. That’s a reduction of 9000+ kilowatts in the first full year, well above the projected estimates guaranteed by our contractor, South Coast Solar.
“I’d had concerns about wind, hail, and heat/humidity. In Southern Louisiana in the middle of summer, with 99° temperatures and consistent 90% humidity, walking outside is like walking through hot water. You wonder how anything could withstand that for 25 years! But so far, so good. Our system hasn’t missed a beat. The production levels have been the same both summers, and the panels seem to be handling the heat and moisture just fine.
“We’ve also been through a few light hail events with no damage, and a Category 1 hurricane with no wind issues. Thus far the system is everything SunPower and our installer, South Coast Solar, said it would be, and I am very pleased. In fact, we were so happy with our system that both my in-laws and my brother purchased SunPower systems of similar sizes. Thanks again for this great product.”
Trevor Ledet, Louisiana
“We live in an 1880 New Orleans “Shotgun Camelback" house. New Orleans, like many places in the Gulf region, experiences high humidity year-round. For six months out of the year, the dew point is above 60 °F, and for three months of the year it's above 70°F. Most summer mornings, the relative humidity is above 80%.
“Maintaining a 130-year-old house like ours requires constant vigilance, because the high humidity here tends to promote mold and wood rot. At least we don't have to worry about our solar panels. We’ve had a 5-kilowatt SunPower system on our roof for 18 months. Thanks to our PV system and other efficiency upgrades, we’ve reduced our electricity and gas bills by 70%.
“Living in Hurricane Alley, we were actually more concerned about wind damaging panels than humidity. But the system has held up well, and we’ve been surprised at how flawlessly it has performed. The panels have produced about 10% more solar energy than they were originally rated for. The support has been great as well – in a year and a half, the only hiccup we've experienced was when a lightning storm tripped the fuse on the inverter, which our SunPower installer fixed within an hour.”
Z Smith, Louisiana
Want more details? Watch this new video about SunPower performance when things get sticky. Then join the conversation!
Follow Us: