SunPower To Provide Solar System For San Francisco’s New Exploratorium

Winning a 1.3 megawatt (MW) isn’t a big deal for a solar manufacturer who regularly supplies modules for utility-scale projects. But SunPower (SPWR :NASDAQ) being selected as part of net-zero energy solution for the new home of San Francisco’s Exploratorium is a big deal.

With the Exploratorium scheduled to open on San Francisco’s Embarcadero in the Spring of 2013, SunPower’s solar system will receive a lot of attention, much like the solar system on the renovated Academy of Science did a few years ago.

Equally impressive is that the solar system will be part of a net-zero energy supply that will employ an inventive heating and cooling system that will use filtered water from the San Francisco Bay, high performance glass, and low-emitting materials.

And business wins like this one are important for the San Jose-based company as it is in their backyard. With rival Suntech Power (STP :NYSE) having a major presence in San Francisco and First Solar’s (FSLR :NASDAQ) strong track record of projects in California, not losing this high-profile project to a competitor is important to their future.

Shares of SunPower were up 1.78 percent in afternoon trading.