SunPower Sells Power to US Navy - Analyst Blog

SunPower Corporation (SPWRA) has entered into an agreement with the US Navy under which the former will sell the electricity generated from the 13.78-megawatt (“DC”) solar photovoltaic (“PV”) power system to the latter.

SunPower has begun the designing process at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake in California and plans to formally announce the commencement of construction in December this year. An affiliate of Metropolitan Life, subsidiary of MetLife, Inc. (MET), will be the owner of the plant that will be leased to a SunPower affiliate.

Per the agreement, SunPower will design, build, operate and maintain the solar power system with the aid of its high-efficiency solar panels that have a 25-year warranty. The solar plant will feature the cost-effective SunPower Oasis Power Plant product which is a fully integrated modular solar power block that deploys utility-scale solar projects rapidly with optimal use of land. Each power block integrates the SunPower T0 Tracker with the maximum efficiency SunPower E19 / 425 Solar Panel, pre-manufactured system cabling and other advanced features.

SunPower's high-efficiency solar technology will generate energy that is equivalent to more than 30% of China Lake’s annual energy load and will help in reducing costs by approximately $13 million over the tenure of 20 years. The company expects to deliver reliable, emission-free solar power beginning fiscal 2012 end.

Under the 20-year purchase power agreement (PPA), the Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake will buy the electricity at a rate that is currently below the retail utility rate, which will provide the Navy a long-term hedge against rising power prices. The PPA with the Navy also does not require any initial capital investment.

Recently, SunPower and NRG Energy, Inc. (NRG) had also announced the formal commencement of construction of the 250-megawatt California Valley Solar Ranch.

SunPower is one of the most forward-integrated solar companies, focused on moving up the value chain. Looking ahead, SunPower also seeks to establish itself as the leader in high performance solar power products.

However, we are concerned about its higher cost structures vis-à-vis its peers, as well as an oversupply glut of solar panels in the market, fluctuations in currency exchange ratesand rising competition. The company presently retains a short-term Zacks #4 Rank (Sell). We have a long-term Neutral recommendation on the stock.

Recently, SunPower Corporation reported third quarter 2011 adjusted earnings per share of 4 cents, easily beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of 6 cents. However, earnings were below year-ago earnings of 26 cents per share.

Headquartered in San Jose, California, SunPower Corporation designs, develops, manufactures, markets and sells high-performance solar electric power technology products, systems and services worldwide for residential, commercial and utility-scale power plant customers. The company’s semiconductor-based solar cells and solar panels, which convert sunlight into electricity, are manufactured using proprietary processes and technologies.

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