Latest
The new ‘Monolith’ solar panel is designed for use in the US residential sector. Image: SunPower.
US residential solar installer SunPower and Norway-headquartered REC Group have unveiled a new 470W solar panel, designed for use in the US residential sector.
Internally dubbed Monolith, and officially known as the REC Alpha Pure-RX module, the panel is currently in production, although the companies did not specify at which of the REC Groups facilities the module would be produced. The name echoes the companys Alpha Pro M series of modules, launched in June 2024, which use heterojunction (HJT) technology and form part of the companys shift towards HJT products.
This article requires Premium Subscription Basic (FREE) Subscription
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Try Premium for just $1
Full premium access for the first month at only $1
Converts to an annual rate after 30 days unless cancelled
Cancel anytime during the trial period
Premium Benefits
Expert industry analysis and interviews
Digital access to PV Tech Power journal
Exclusive event discounts
Or continue reading this article for free
The panel is the first to be developed under a new joint development agreement (JDA) signed between the two companies, and is tailored for use in the US; for instance, the panel weights 50 pounds, just under the recommendation set by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) of 51 pounds for the maximum safe weight a single worker can be expected to carry.
The companies also noted that they are developing a bifacial variant of the panel, which will have an output of at least 500W.
We are all excited to partner with market-leader REC on advanced solar systems, said SunPower chairman and CEO TJ Rodgers. The new 470W panel and the 500-plus watt bifacial solar panel are engineered to deliver superior system performance and maximise long-term energy production, even under the most demanding environmental conditions.
The news follows the collapse, and later revival, of the SunPower brand, which is one of the longest-running in the US solar sector. The company declared for bankruptcy in 2024 and parts of its business were purchased by Complete Solaria, which then announced plans to change its name to SunPower and trade under the brand.
SunPower has since reported a number of positive developments, including the raising of US$900 million and the acquisition of fellow residential installers Sunder and Ambia Solar last year.
PV Tech has been running PV ModuleTech Conferences since 2017. PV ModuleTech USA, on 16-17 June 2026, will be our fifth PV ModulelTech conference dedicated to the U.S. utility scale solar sector. The event will gather the key stakeholders from solar developers, solar asset owners and investors, PV manufacturing, policy-making and and all interested downstream channels and third-party entities. The goal is simple: to map out the PV module supply channels to the U.S. out to 2028 and beyond.
PV CellTech Global will gather the key stakeholders from PV manufacturing, equipment/materials, policy-making and strategy, capital equipment investment and all interested downstream channels and third-party entities. Join us in Q1 of 2027
Read Next
ENGIE and Ampion added new solar capacity, Reactivate plans to build on landfill sites and Pivot has completed the first phase of a portfolio.
US renewables developer Adapture Renewables has secured US$233 million in tax equity from US Bank to support its 441MW Titanium solar PV project portfolio.
Solar manufacturing major Canadian Solar is looking to raise US$200 million in convertible senior note sales to support its US manufacturing operations
Japanese cell and module manufacturer Toyo Solar has secured a supply agreement to source US-made polysilicon capacity.
Indian independent power producer Inox Clean Energy and its subsidiary Inox Solar have tied up equity totalling INR31 billion (US$340 million).
Investor HASI and residential solar and storage developer Sunrun have announced a joint venture to finance 300MW of renewable energy capacity.
Most Read
Upcoming Events
https://www.pv-tech.org/sunpower-rec-group-development-agreement-us-residential-solar-panels/
