Businessweek

or control. The Oasis streamlines the entire power plant development process, from permitting through construction and financing. SunPower C-7 Tracker (C-7): The C-7 combines a horizontal single-axis tracker with rows of parabolic mirrors, reflecting light onto linear arrays of the company’s solar cells. This tracker's components come factory preassembled enabling rapid installation using standard tools. Fixed Tilt SunPower Parking Structures: The company has developed and patented designs for solar power systems for parking structures in multiple configurations. These dual-use systems incorporate solar panels into the roof of a carport or similar structure to deliver onsite solar power while providing shade and protection. They are suited for parking lots adjacent to facilities. SunPower Tracker technology could be incorporated for elevated parking structures to provide a differentiated product to the company’s customers. Other System Offerings: The company has other products that utilize its core systems. Its metal roof system is designed for sloped-metal roof buildings, which are used in some winery and warehouse applications. This solar power system is designed for installation. Balance of System Components: ‘Balance of system components’ are components of a solar power system other than the solar panels, and include SunPower branded inverters, mounting structures, charge controllers, grid interconnection equipment, and other devices depending on the specific requirements of a particular system and project. Services The company provides its solar power plant customers the management of the project lifecycle, from early stage site assessment, financing support, and project development, including full-scale environmental and construction permitting, through engineering, procurement, construction, and commissioning. Operations and Maintenance: The company provides commissioning, warranty, administration, operations, maintenance, and performance monitoring services. It offers its commercial customers a suite of solar power system maintenance services ranging from system monitoring, to preventive and corrective maintenance, to rapid-response outage restoration and inverter repair. Customers The company sells its products through its regional segments, including North America, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Australia. Its customers include investors, financial institutions, project developers, electric utilities, and independent power producers, commercial and governmental entities, production home builders, and residential owners and small commercial building owners who are served by its third-party global dealer network. The company works with development, construction, system integration, and financing companies to deliver its solar power systems to wholesale sellers, retail sellers, and retail users of electricity. Suppliers The company has certain purchase obligations under its material supply agreement with its joint venture AUO SunPower Sdn. Bhd., which is a supplier of the company’s cells. Marketing and Sales The company markets and sells solar electric power technologies worldwide through a direct sales force and through its third-party global dealer network. It sells products and services to residential, commercial, utility, and power plant customers through direct sales personnel and dealer representatives. Its direct sales personnel and dealer representatives are located in Australia, France, Germany, Korea, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland, and the United States. Its dealer network in the United States serves approximately 40 states. The company has three dealership tiers in the program, such as Elite, Premier, and Authorized. Acquisitions In 2012, the company acquired Tenesol S.A., a European-based manufacturer and developer of solar projects with module manufacturing operations in France and South Africa. Intellectual Property SunPower and the SunPower logo are the company’s registered trademarks in countries worldwide for use with solar cells, solar panels, and mounting systems. The company also holds registered trademarks for Connectis, Fournisseur d