SunPower
SunPower is an American solar-energy brand focused primarily on residential photovoltaic systems, energy storage, and related installation services.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
SunPower is an American solar-energy brand whose history is rooted in high-efficiency photovoltaic research and residential solar installation. The business was founded on April 24, 1985, by Richard Swanson, a Stanford University electrical engineering professor who had been studying ways to improve solar-cell efficiency. It initially operated under the name Eos and was funded with limited personal savings, research grants, and early manufacturing work for semiconductor companies. The company adopted the SunPower name in 1989 after Robert Lorenzini invested and became chairman. During its early years, SunPower combined laboratory research with prototype installations, wafer production, and solar applications for portable electronics. Swanson left Stanford in 1991 to lead the company full time. The business grew during the 1990s but faced financial pressure around 2001. A major turning point came through the involvement of T. J. Rodgers, chief executive of Cypress Semiconductor. After initially investing personally, Rodgers helped Cypress build a controlling position in SunPower in 2002. Cypress appointed Tom Werner as chief executive the following year, and the company benefited from stronger demand in California and Germany, government incentives, higher electricity prices, and improvements such as its A-300 solar cell. SunPower completed its initial public offering in 2005, raising approximately $138.6 million. It became profitable in 2006 and expanded manufacturing, project development, and commercial relationships. Its acquisition of PowerLight in 2007 broadened the company’s capabilities in solar roofing, project engineering, and large installations. SunPower was separated from Cypress as an independent business in 2008. Further expansion included the acquisition of Italian solar company SunRay Renewable Energy in 2010 and technology acquisitions involving automated panel cleaning and microinverters. TotalEnergies, then known as Total, acquired a controlling interest in SunPower in 2011 for approximately $1.37 billion. The ownership relationship later declined, although TotalEnergies remained a significant shareholder. SunPower continued to invest in residential, commercial, and utility-scale solar while also developing financing, monitoring, automation, and storage-related offerings. It sold its microinverter business to Enphase Energy in 2018 and subsequently used Enphase microinverters in its AC-module products. The company reshaped its business around services and installations by separating its manufacturing operations into Maxeon Solar Technologies. The transaction was announced in 2019 and completed in 2020, with Maxeon becoming the principal home for much of the former panel-manufacturing activity. In February 2022, SunPower agreed to sell its commercial and industrial installation business to TotalEnergies for $250 million, concentrating the remaining organization more heavily on residential solar, batteries, financing, and customer services. SunPower disclosed significant financial and accounting problems in late 2023, including an inventory-accounting error and uncertainty about its ability to continue as a going concern. It filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on August 5, 2024. Selected assets were subsequently sold through a transaction involving Complete Solaria. In April 2025, Complete Solaria announced that it was rebranding as SunPower and later reported its first profitable quarter in three years under the revived name. The modern SunPower brand therefore combines the historical reputation of the former photovoltaic technology company with the residential solar and energy-services platform acquired and operated by Complete Solaria.
History
SunPower began in 1985 as Eos, a venture established by Stanford electrical engineering professor Richard Swanson to commercialize high-efficiency solar-cell research. Early funding came from personal savings and research grants, while the company supplemented its income through semiconductor-related manufacturing. Robert Lorenzini invested in 1989, became chairman, and helped establish the SunPower name. Swanson left Stanford in 1991 to concentrate on the company. The company struggled periodically during the 1990s and early 2000s, but its prospects improved after T. J. Rodgers of Cypress Semiconductor became involved. Cypress ultimately invested about $150 million and acquired control in 2002. Tom Werner became chief executive in 2003. Demand increased as solar incentives expanded in California and Germany and as electricity costs rose. SunPower went public in 2005 and reached profitability in 2006. Expansion accelerated through manufacturing investment, project contracts, and acquisitions. PowerLight was acquired in 2007, strengthening solar-roofing and project-development capabilities, and SunPower became independent from Cypress in 2008. SunRay Renewable Energy was acquired in 2010 to support European growth. Total acquired a controlling interest in 2011, while SunPower continued developing photovoltaic, installation, financing, automation, and microinverter capabilities. Richard Swanson retired from active leadership in 2012. SunPower acquired Greenbotics in 2013 and Dragonfly in the same period, followed by SolarBridge in 2014. It sold the microinverter operation to Enphase Energy in 2018. In 2019, it announced a separation of manufacturing into Maxeon Solar Technologies; the separation was completed in 2020. The transaction materially changed SunPower from a vertically integrated panel producer into a more downstream-focused solar-services company. In February 2022, the commercial and industrial installation operations were sold to TotalEnergies for $250 million. This reinforced the company’s emphasis on residential customers, installation, financing, batteries, and related services. Financial strain became public in December 2023, when SunPower disclosed an inventory-accounting problem, a technical debt default, and uncertainty about its ability to remain a going concern. Chapter 11 protection followed on August 5, 2024. Certain assets were sold to Complete Solaria, and in April 2025 Complete Solaria announced that it would operate under the SunPower name. The current brand is consequently the successor to a long-running solar company, but its corporate continuity differs from that of the pre-bankruptcy public company.
- 2025
Complete Solaria rebrands as SunPower
[1]Complete Solaria adopts the SunPower name after acquiring selected assets of the former company.
- 2024
Chapter 11 filing
[1]SunPower files for bankruptcy protection and begins asset-sale proceedings.
- 2022
Commercial and industrial business sale
[1]SunPower sells its commercial and industrial installation divisions to TotalEnergies for $250 million.
- 2020
Maxeon manufacturing separation
[1]The photovoltaic manufacturing business is separated into Maxeon Solar Technologies.
- 2011
Total acquires controlling interest
[1]Total acquires control of SunPower in a transaction valued at approximately $1.37 billion.
- 2008
Separation from Cypress
[1]SunPower is spun off as an independent company from Cypress Semiconductor.
- 2007
PowerLight acquisition
[1]SunPower acquires PowerLight for approximately $265 million, expanding solar-roofing and project capabilities.
- 2005
Initial public offering
[1]SunPower completes an IPO that raises approximately $138.6 million.
- 2002
Cypress Semiconductor takes control
[1]Cypress Semiconductor acquires a controlling interest after substantial investment.
- 1989
The SunPower name is adopted
[1]Robert Lorenzini invests in the company, becomes chairman, and changes its name to SunPower.
Products and positioning
A premium, technology-led residential solar brand emphasizing high-efficiency generation, integrated installation, energy storage, and long-term customer services.
solar installation
Residential photovoltaic systems
SunPower’s core modern offering consists of residential rooftop solar systems designed, sold, and installed for homeowners. Systems combine photovoltaic modules, electrical equipment, monitoring, and project services rather than functioning only as a panel product. The brand has historically competed on efficiency, system integration, and customer financing.
solar roofing
SunTile
SunTile was a solar-roofing product developed with PowerLight. It integrated photovoltaic generation into a roofing-oriented design and reflected SunPower’s effort to make solar systems part of the building envelope rather than an add-on panel array.
energy storage
Solar-plus-storage systems
The residential platform includes battery energy storage paired with solar generation. These systems are intended to increase self-consumption, provide backup capability, and help households manage energy use. Specific battery manufacturing ownership and product configurations have changed as the company’s corporate structure evolved.
photovoltaic technology
A-300 solar cell
The A-300 was an early SunPower solar-cell technology associated with the company’s expansion in the mid-2000s. Its improved performance supported the brand’s high-efficiency positioning and helped drive demand in markets such as California and Germany.
Controversies
2023
Inventory-accounting issue and going-concern warning
SunPower disclosed that inventory had previously been accounted for incorrectly and that the issue contributed to a technical default. Management also said there was substantial doubt about the company’s ability to continue as a going concern.
Brand decisions
2024
Enter Chapter 11 and pursue asset saleOtherBackground
Financial pressure, accounting problems, and liquidity concerns led the company to seek court protection.
Action taken
SunPower filed for Chapter 11 and entered a stalking-horse process involving Complete Solaria.
Aftermath
Selected assets were sold, and Complete Solaria later adopted the SunPower brand.
Stalking-horse asset-purchase proposal. $50 million (2024)
2022
Sell commercial and industrial operationsM&ABackground
The company aimed to focus its resources and operating model on residential customers.
Action taken
SunPower sold its commercial and industrial installation divisions to TotalEnergies.
Aftermath
The transaction narrowed the business toward residential solar and related energy services.
Transaction value. $250 million (February 2022)
2019
Separate photovoltaic manufacturing into MaxeonStrategyBackground
SunPower was pursuing a less vertically integrated structure and sought to separate panel manufacturing from downstream services.
Action taken
It announced the spin-off of its manufacturing division into Maxeon Solar Technologies, completed in 2020.
Aftermath
SunPower concentrated more heavily on residential services, installation, financing, and storage.
2007
Acquire PowerLightM&ABackground
SunPower sought greater scale and broader capabilities in solar roofing and project development.
Action taken
It acquired PowerLight for approximately $265 million.
Aftermath
The transaction substantially expanded SunPower’s size and supported larger installation contracts.
Acquisition value. $265 million (2007)
Recent events
Reported
TotalEnergies agrees to buy SunPower’s commercial and industrial business[2]
TotalEnergies announced that it was buying SunPower’s commercial and industrial business for $250 million. The acquisition was expected to close in the second quarter.
Reported
SunPower launches SunPower Financial[3]
SunPower announced SunPower Financial, a financial service with financial products for U.S. homeowners, including expanded eligibility and a 0% APR product for qualified customers. The company said the new products were available immediately and that financing would begin through its dealer network in six states.
Reported
SunPower acquired Blue Raven Solar[4]
SunPower announced that it acquired Blue Raven Solar. The release states that the acquisition was made for cash consideration of up to $165 million.
Reported
SunPower announces mySunPower monitoring app[5]
SunPower announced the mySunPower app for homeowners to review and manage energy generation, consumption and battery storage settings from a mobile device. The app was scheduled to become available to SunPower Equinox customers on February 16 and to all of SunPower's monitoring customers by spring 2021.
Reported
Maxeon launches SunPower Advantage Installer Program[6]
Maxeon Solar Technologies announced the launch of the SunPower Advantage Installer Program, introduced in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Poland, Portugal and Spain.
Reported
SunPower secures financing commitments for residential solar leases and storage[7]
SunPower announced that it had secured financing commitments from Hannon Armstrong and other capital providers for its residential solar lease program and its solar-plus-storage program, including the SunPower Equinox system with SunVault storage.
Reported
SunPower receives 2020 Smarter E-Award[8]
SunPower received the 2020 Smarter E-Award in the Outstanding Projects category in recognition of Powerhouse Brattørkaia, a building featuring SunPower solar panels.
Reported
SunPower and Bank of the West establish commercial solar financing program[9]
SunPower announced the closing of a program with Bank of the West that will provide SunPower Commercial dealers with a new financing option. Bank of the West contracts and servicing will be private-labeled as SunPower Commercial Capital.
- Unconfirmed
Reported
Tech CU and SunPower partner on solar financing[10]
Tech CU and SunPower entered a partnership involving a $1 billion commitment to finance SunPower solar systems over four years. The partnership is intended to diversify SunPower’s funding resources and streamline financing for customers.
Reported
SunPower and Tech CU announce $1 billion solar financing partnership[11]
SunPower announced a new $1 billion partnership with Technology Credit Union (Tech CU) to expand financing options for qualified U.S. residential solar customers and provide capital for SunPower's loan program. The commitment is for four years.
Sources16 sources
- 1SunPoweren.wikipedia.org
- 2TotalEnergies 同意收购 SunPower 的商业及工业业务nbcconnecticut.com
- 3SunPower推出SunPower Financialprnewswire.com
- 4SunPower 收购 Blue Raven Solarprnewswire.com
- 5SunPower 宣布推出 mySunPower 监控应用prnewswire.com
- 6Maxeon推出SunPower Advantage安装商计划prnewswire.com
- 7SunPower为住宅太阳能租赁及储能业务获得融资承诺prnewswire.com
- 8SunPower获得2020年Smarter E奖prnewswire.com
- 9SunPower与西部银行推出商业太阳能融资计划prnewswire.com
- 10Tech CU与SunPower合作提供太阳能融资renewableenergymagazine.com
- 11SunPower与Tech CU宣布10亿美元太阳能融资合作prnewswire.com
- 12SunPower 获得 pv magazine 可持续发展奖pv-magazine.com
- 13SunPower宣布公开发行普通股定价prnewswire.com
- 14SunPower宣布分拆太阳能业务energyandcapital.com
- 15SunPower与Hannon Armstrong成立太阳能合资企业prnewswire.com
- 16Tech CU partners with SunPower to provide $1 billion in solar financingcuinsight.com
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