Army's First Privately Funded, Commercially Available Storage Solution Expected to Help Reduce Peak Power Demand Charges While Increasing Energy Security at the Base

SAN JOSE, Calif., Aug. 23, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- SunPower Corp. (NASDAQ: SPWR) has broken ground on a 10-megawatt solar photovoltaic system at the Redstone Arsenal U.S. Army post in Alabama which is expected to create more than 200 jobs at peak of construction. With a newly added 1-megawatt energy storage system, the project is designed to strengthen energy security and resilience at Redstone Arsenal, supporting the Army's efforts to reduce electricity costs at installations while also making them more energy independent.

"This project reinforces the Army's commitment to advancing adoption of reliable, cost-effective, home-grown renewable energy at Redstone Arsenal," said Col. Thomas Holliday, Garrison Commander, Redstone Arsenal. "We're continually looking for ways to grow our capability and reduce our cost to provide the nation with a more efficient defense."

Developed by the U.S. Army Office of Energy Initiatives, Redstone Arsenal's Directorate of Public Works, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Huntsville Center's Energy Division, the innovative project was financed by a power purchase agreement (PPA), allowing the Army to buy 100 percent of the power generated without having to pay for the power plant's construction, maintenance and operation. The Army continues to collaborate with private-sector partners and utilities to build clean, alternative energy projects including onsite power generation, electricity storage, and energy control.

"Solar is cost-competitive with traditional energy sources today, and is helping the U.S. military reduce operational costs," said Nam Nguyen, SunPower executive vice president. "We commend Redstone Arsenal for managing its significant energy demand with abundant, renewable solar power. The high performance solar and storage technology we are installing for the agency will substantially increase the value of energy produced by the solar plant over the long term."

SunPower designed and is installing a SunPower® Oasis® Power Plant system at the site, which is a fully-integrated, modular solar power block engineered and built for compatibility with a future micro-grid, further contributing to the overall energy security of the installation.

As a trusted solar advisor to federal government agencies and the Department of Defense, SunPower has designed and installed solar power systems at a number of military facilities including more than 28 megawatts at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada and 13.78 megawatts at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake in California, as well as 28 megawatts currently under construction at Vandenberg Air Force Base.

For more information on how solar and storage solutions can benefit federal agencies, visit www.sunpower.com/government.

About SunPower
As one of the world's most innovative and sustainable energy companies, SunPower (NASDAQ: SPWR) provides a diverse group of customers with complete solar solutions and services. Residential customers, businesses, governments, schools and utilities around the globe rely on SunPower's more than 30 years of proven experience. From the first flip of the switch, SunPower delivers maximum value and superb performance throughout the long life of every solar system. Headquartered in Silicon Valley, SunPower has dedicated, customer-focused employees in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, and North and South America. For more information about how SunPower is changing the way our world is powered, visit www.sunpower.com.