SunPower Corp., one of the nation’s largest producers of solar panels, Monday announced it has purchased Austin-based SolarBridge Technologies.
The terms of the deal were not disclosed.
SolarBridge is a leader in making integrated microinverter technology which converts direct current generated by a solar panel into alternating current. Its technology is already integrated into the panel, which eliminates the need to assemble additional components when installing the panels on a home.
SunPower, based in San Jose, Calif., plans to use SolarBridge’s microinverter technology with its high efficiency solar panels.
“SunPower’s acquisition of SolarBridge and its high performance microinverter technology will allow us to develop a differentiated product specifically optimized for our high efficiency solar panels,” Tom Werner, SunPower president and CEO, said in a news release. “This is the beginning of integrating electronics into our world-class solar panel technology. In this case, the combined result will provide our residential customers with an elegant, reliable and complete solution that fits their home specifications, including system design flexibility, ease of installation and maintenance and improved overall aesthetics.”
