US-based module manufacturer SunPower has been ranked in the three top places in the PHOTON International 2012 module yield test.
The company’s SPR-327NE-WHT-D module came in first place with an annual yield of 1,144.1kWh per kW. The performance ratio estimates 95.2% according to a theoretical approach of 1,202 kWh per kW output.
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Two of the company's other modules achieved performance ratio values of 94.9 and 94.8% respectively.
Chinese manufacturer Seraphim Solar System ranked fourth place with its SRP-220-6PB module, with a performance ratio of 93.6%.
Last year's winner was the REC230AE module made by the Norwegian manufacturer Renewable Energy while this year the module came in 27th out of 151 modules tested.
REC’s module performance ratio has increased from 90.8% in 2011 to 91.4% in 2012 due to favourable weather conditions.
All in all, 109 of the tested modules received a better performance ratio in 2012 than in 2011 and 72 modules achieved a performance ratio of 90% or over.