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Premium Performance

Max 54-cell

490–505 W · 54-cell · IBC back-contact · Dual-glass

SunPowerReleased 2026

68/ 100

Very good

Global

Back-Contact Cell24.7% EfficiencyClass-Leading Temp Coeff15+ Yrs Field-Proven

The verdict. In our Premium Performance class, SunPower Max 54-cell leads on architecture & design.

11thof 11 in Premium PerformanceBottom quarterclass average 77.0
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The assessment

How it scores, by category

Architecture & Design88
Efficiency & Yield64
Durability (verified)47
Performance & Degradation78
Guarantee & Backbone79
Sustainability47

Market position

11thof 11 in Premium PerformanceBottom quarter
686885

Our reading

Max 54-cell scores 68, placing 11 of 11 in the Premium Performance class against a class average of 77.0. Its strongest scoring dimension is architecture & design (88), above the class average of 83. Sustainability scores 47, the lowest pillar for this product. The class average on sustainability is 74. Underlying specifications include a module efficiency of 24.7%, Back-contact cell architecture, 30-year product warranty backed by a 30-year performance term.

The data

Power
505W
Efficiency
24.7%
Cell
Back-contact
Temp coeff
-0.26%/°C

Performance guarantee: 30-year linear output

505 Wrated449W at yr 30
80859095100Guaranteed floor 88.8%88.8%0yr5yr10yr15yr20yr25yr30yr
Projected outputGuaranteed floor: 88.8% at yr 30

Wattage figure based on the sourced rated power (505 W) applied to the guaranteed floor; modular/format differences aside, this is the same rated-power spec shown above.

Modelled effective output, year by year

500W458W

Year 1 to year 25. Rated 505 W at STC.

How this is modelled

Modelled from this panel’s own published first-year (1%) and annual (0.35%/yr) degradation figures, compounded against its 505 W rated (STC) output. This is a datasheet-derived estimate, not a field measurement or a warranty guarantee. Actual output also depends on site irradiance, temperature, soiling and system design.

Year1510152025
Watts500 W493 W484 W475 W466 W458 W
% of rated99.0%97.6%95.8%94.1%92.3%90.6%
Before you buy

Two things to check

Local positionUse a market view to check local availability, approvals and warranty scope.

Ask the installer: Will the quote name the exact Max 54-cell model and wattage, and who covers labour if the module warranty is used?

Verification & sources

Market context

Global benchmark. This scorecard is benchmarked globally. A global score does not imply local availability, certification, warranty coverage, or installer compatibility.

Benchmark anchor. The score is anchored to HSM-BE54-HD505, the 505 W top bin in the current Australian SunPower Max series manufactured by TCL. Warranty scope remains under review because the current warranty table names HSM-BE52-HD490-505 rather than the BE54 datasheet family. Scored model: HSM-BE54-HD505 · checked 2026-07-27. Evidence.

Sources & references · checked 2026-07-27

Strong evidence coverage

27 of 27 scored criteria link directly to a published source.

Values marked estimated, derived, or not found remain visible on the audit sheet and do not carry the same evidential weight as a linked source. Coverage measures direct links, not an independent guarantee that a claim is correct.

Help strengthen this record

These are published evidence gaps, not private submissions. A source is reviewed under the same methodology whether it comes from a reader, installer or manufacturer.

View the open evidence register

Evidence timeline

Recorded verification events for this scorecard. These are evidence checks, not historical score snapshots.

  1. Core scorecard evidence checked
  2. Series benchmark source checked
  3. AU market evidence checked

Scored by Solar Analytica Research

Further reading from Signals

Stay across the benchmark.

New scorecards, score changes and market signals, published as they happen.